Spinal cord injury trial offers hope of restoring bladder control with implant

A spinal cord injury trial has reported early improvements in urinary urgency and bladder capacity using an implanted electrical stimulation device.

Eight people have received an epidural stimulation device in the ImPRESS trial so far, with five completing the study.

Interim results show that using the stimulator suppressed the urge to urinate and increased bladder capacity by an average of 100 per cent.

Professor Lynsey Duffell is leading the trial with consultant neurosurgeon David Baxter.

Commenting on the research findings, Duffell said: “Although it’s too early to give outcome results, I do feel we have made a big step forward towards life-changing benefits for people living with a spinal cord injury.

“We have found a way to effectively switch off an overactive bladder contraction, the urgent need to wee, and seen a clinically meaningful improvement in bladder capacity.

“There are a huge number of nerves at the bottom of the spinal cord, and the fact we have achieved such a specific effect with the stimulator in the lab is really encouraging and exciting. What we need to do now is translate this to an effective home-based therapy.”

The trial is taking place at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore and brings together a coalition of charities led by Spinal Research with industry, clinicians and researchers.

Participants who respond well to electrical stimulation in hospital are offered a fully implantable epidural stimulator for three months at home, alongside pelvic floor muscle training.

Actor Josh Sher, who was paralysed from the chest down following a motorbike accident in 2020, is among the participants.

Describing his experience with the device, he said: “Following my injury, I have an overactive, hyper-sensitive bladder, so even drinking a small amount of liquid can sometimes feel like a lot.

“After having the stim implanted, it cuts off the signals to the brain and gets rid of the urgency, which gives me the time to get to the bathroom. It’s great to see technologies coming along that can make a real difference to people living with spinal cord injuries.”

The Stanmore team is continuing to recruit participants and hopes to extend the ImPRESS trial, with full results expected in 2028.

Spinal Research has also channelled a donation of nearly £300,000 from the Injured Jockey’s Fund to the Stanmore team to investigate whether nerve stimulation therapy and pelvic floor training can restore bowel function.

Spinal Research chief executive Louisa McGinn said: “Curing paralysis is a journey of restoring the functions stolen by a spinal cord injury and it’s one we have now started.

“Restoring things like bowel and bladder function will make such a huge difference to the quality of life of millions of people around the world.

“We’re very excited about where things are heading. There is genuine momentum and positivity in the research space.”