Before
The first step is a test period to see if sacral neuromodulation will help your child. During this stage, we check if their symptoms — like urinary or bowel accidents — get significantly better. Our goal is at least a 50% improvement. If the test is successful, we may move forward with placing a long-term device.
During
The procedure is done while your child is asleep under anesthesia and usually takes one to two hours. It is an outpatient procedure, so your child can go home the same day.
What Happens
- A small wire (called a lead) is placed near the sacral nerves in your child’s lower back.
- This wire connects to a small, temporary device that stays outside the body but is easily hidden under clothing.
- The area where the wire exits the body will be covered with a bandage.
While the device is on, your child may feel a light buzzing sensation in the upper thigh or private area. This feeling shouldn’t hurt, and most kids get used to it quickly.
After
The evaluation period usually lasts about two weeks. During this time, your child can go to school or work as usual but should take it easy. That means:
- No heavy lifting
- No strenuous exercise
- No bending or twisting too much
You’ll have access to our care team 24/7 in case you have any questions or concerns.
Tracking Progress
You and your child will be given easy-to-use tools (like diaries or symptom trackers) to keep track of:
- Urinary symptoms (like leaks or accidents)
- Bowel symptoms (like constipation or accidents)
These tools help us measure if the device is making a positive difference.
What Happens Next
- If the device helps, we’ll talk about moving to a permanent implant.
- If it doesn’t help enough, the internal wire will be removed with a short outpatient procedure (your child will be asleep under anesthesia). We’ll then look into other treatment options together.