Researchers from the Mayo Clinic conducted a study to evaluate efficacy of transcutaneous ultrasound in assessment of tibial nerve location. Study sample included a total of 25 participants (7 male and 18 female) with a median age of 37 years (range, 19 -70; IQR, 31 –51). The ssubject's tibial nerve was first identified by the physical palpitation, and then by using the Phillips Lumify Mobile App Based ultrasound. Difference in distance was recorded in proximal-distal (PD) and anterior-posterior (AP) planes (Figure 1).
Figure 1
Dr. Lomax and his colleagues found a median 2 mm difference between the ultrasound measurement and cutaneous palpitation in AP plane (range, 0 –5 mm; IQR, 2 -3 mm). Higher median difference of 4 mm was identified in PD plane (range, 0 –9 mm; IQR, 3 –5 mm). The median difference between PD and AP was 2 mm (range, -3 –7 mm; IQR, 0 –4 mm) (Figure 2).
Figure 2
The study suggests that transcutaneous ultrasound is a more accurate tool of tibial nerve location compared to conventional identification. Future research is needed to assess if this finding will affect long-term effectiveness of PTNS therapy.
Presented by: Steven Lomax, MD, Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida
Written by: Hanna Stambakio, BS, Clinical Research Coordinator, Division of Urology, University of Pennsylvania, Twitter: @AStambakio at the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction Winter Meeting, SUFU 2019, February 26 - March 2, 2019, Miami, Florida