Outcomes of sacral neuromodulation for chronic pelvic pain: a Finnish national multicenter study

Adrian Zegrea, Jaan Kirss, J Kirss, Kirss J, Pinta T, T Pinta, Tarja Pinta, T Rautio, Rautio T, Tero Rautio, Varpe P, Pirita Varpe, P Varpe, Kairaluoma M, M Kairaluoma, M Aho, Aho M, Martti O. Aho, Camilla Böckelman, C Böckelman, Lavonius M, Maija Lavonius, M Lavonius
Techniques in coloproctology · 2020 · vol. 24(3) , pp. 215–220 · doi:10.1007/s10151-020-02148-2 · PMID:31965400 · W3002451462
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-09 ⓘ

This retrospective Finnish national study found that 41% of 51 chronic pelvic pain patients treated with sacral neuromodulation had a working implant at follow-up, with significantly higher implantation and success rates for endometriosis-related pain.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-09 · read from full text ⓘ

This Finnish multicenter register-based retrospective study evaluated outcomes of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for chronic pelvic pain in 51 patients selected for SNM treatment after testing for implantation (2004–2017) across major university and central hospitals. Patients had a mean follow-up of 13.8 months, with 57% (28/51) advancing from test stimulation to permanent implant and 41% having a working modulator at follow-up. Endometriosis-related pain was associated with higher outcomes, including a higher permanent implantation rate (88% vs. 57%) and higher overall success rate (75% vs. 41%), with reported p-values of 0.01 and 0.026; the key limitation is the retrospective design and relatively variable follow-up. This paper is centrally about endometriosis-related pain — SNM outcomes were specifically compared for patients with endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain.

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Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to report the outcomes of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in chronic pelvic pain (CPP) patients in the Finnish national cohort.MethodsThis was a register-based retrospective study, involving all the centers that provide SNM treatment in Finland. The data of all patients treated with SNM for CPP were gathered from Oulu-, Turku-, Tampere- and Helsinki University Hospitals, as well as Jyväskylä and Seinäjoki Central Hospitals. All patients who had been tested for SNM implantation prior to April 2017 were included in the study.ResultsA total of 51 patients were selected for SNM treatment due to CPP from 2004 until 2017. The mean follow-up time was 13.8 months (SD 22.9 months). A total of 28 patients (57%) advanced from testing to permanent stimulator implantation. There were 21 patients (41%) who had a working modulator implanted at the end of follow-up. Patients with endometriosis-related pain had a significantly higher permanent implantation rate than the overall implantation rate (88% vs. 57%; p = 0.01). The endometriosis patients also had a higher overall success rate by the end of the follow-up (75% vs. 41%; p = 0.026) CONCLUSIONS: SNM may be a viable treatment option for patients with CPP due to endometriosis. Further research on SNM treatment for endometriosis patients with refractory CPP is needed.
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Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in chronic pelvic pain (CPP) patients in the Finnish national cohort.

Methods

This was a register-based retrospective study, involving all the centers that provide SNM treatment in Finland. The data of all patients treated with SNM for CPP were gathered from Oulu-, Turku-, Tampere- and Helsinki University Hospitals, as well as Jyväskylä and Seinäjoki Central Hospitals. All patients who had been tested for SNM implantation prior to April 2017 were included in the study.

Results

A total of 51 patients were selected for SNM treatment due to CPP from 2004 until 2017. The mean follow-up time was 13.8 months (SD 22.9 months). A total of 28 patients (57%) advanced from testing to permanent stimulator implantation. There were 21 patients (41%) who had a working modulator implanted at the end of follow-up. Patients with endometriosis-related pain had a significantly higher permanent implantation rate than the overall implantation rate (88% vs. 57%; p = 0.01). The endometriosis patients also had a higher overall success rate by the end of the follow-up (75% vs. 41%; p = 0.026)

Conclusions

SNM may be a viable treatment option for patients with CPP due to endometriosis. Further research on SNM treatment for endometriosis patients with refractory CPP is needed. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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Dis Colon Rectum 52(3):456–462. https://doi.org/10.1007/DCR.0b013e31819d1319(PubMed PMID: 19333046) Funding No grants or funding have been received for this study. Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Ethics declarations Conflict of interest Adrian Zegrea has received financial support for attending symposia from Medtronic, Olympus, Johnson & Johnson. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethical approval This study was conducted in accordance with Finnish Medical Research Act 488/199, 295/2004 and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital District of Southwest Finland (ETMK:163/1801/2015). Informed consent Formal consent was not required for this retrospective study. Additional information Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Zegrea, A., Kirss, J., Pinta, T. et al. Outcomes of sacral neuromodulation for chronic pelvic pain: a Finnish national multicenter study. Tech Coloproctol 24, 215–220 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-020-02148-2 Received: Accepted: Published: Version of record: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-020-02148-2

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Condition tags

chronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Electric Stimulation Therapy Lumbosacral Plexus Electrodes, Implanted Female Finland Humans Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Retrospective Studies Sacrum Treatment Outcome

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