Co-activation of saphenous nerve fibers: a potential therapeutic mechanism of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation?

Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is a minimally invasive and effective treatment for overactive bladder (OAB). However, clinical trials show that positive therapeutic outcomes among patients are difficult to predict (failure rate = 35% to 50%). Inconsistencies in the stimulation amplitudes used clinically and those used in preclinical animal studies led us to hypothesize that OAB therapy involves a secondary bladder-inhibitory pathway. In this paper, we implemented and tested a computer model of the human lower leg that investigated the differential activation of the saphenous nerve (SAFN) and tibial nerve (TN) during percutaneous electrical stimulation. Our preliminary findings show that concomitant activation of SAFN branches occurs during PTNS, which suggests the possibility that the SAFN may influence the clinical outcome of treatment.