Device to Solve Incontinence in Children

Accidental urination in children is a problem, an issue which parents often find difficult to solve. According to health experts, children get full control of their bladder as they grow, and should be able to control their daytime urination by age four and nighttime urination by age six.

However, many children fail in this aspect, increasing the parents' anxiety and concern. Bringing hope for parents struggling with their children's incontinence, researchers have found a device known as sacral nerve stimulator that puts a permanent end to this problem.

The device, when implanted via surgery, supports the bowel muscles or the bladder sphincter. Serving as a mediator and solving communication problems between the brain and the nerves that control the bowel and bladder function, the device helps in managing fecal and urine flow. Electrical pulses sent by an electrical device to the pelvic nerves help in keeping the bowel muscles working.

"The stimulator is surgically implanted under the skin and is connected to two electrodes placed near the tailbone," Steven Teich, surgeon at Nationwide Children's Hospital, said in a news release. "This device tells the muscles when to contract, ultimately helping control the ability to urinate or have a bowel movement."

According to health experts, parents should opt for the sacral nerve stimulation treatment as a last option, when all the treatments adopted to solve this problem, including medications or behavioral therapy, fail.

"We see and treat many children with urinary incontinence, but most will respond to medication and/or behavioral modification," Dr. Seth Alpert, attending pediatric urologist and clinical assistant professor of Urology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, said.  "However, a small number of children with incontinence who are refractory to these standard modalities may benefit from sacral neuromodulation and we are pleased to be able to offer help with these challenging and difficult cases."