{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:59:37Z","timestamp":1760147977024,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,16]],"date-time":"2023-03-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1678924800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Medicina"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is common in patients with cauda equina syndrome (CES). Previous studies have reported that electrical stimulation (ES) improves NBD but more neurophysiologic evidence is required. This case report describes a patient who experienced difficulty with defecation as a result of cauda equina syndrome (CES) that developed after a cesarean section performed 12 years ago under spinal anesthesia. The neurophysiological effects were assessed using the bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) and electromyography (EMG). Two ES treatments, interferential current therapy and transcutaneous electrical stimulation, were used to stimulate the intestine and the external anal sphincter, respectively. The BCR results showed right-side delayed latency and no response on the left side. Needle EMG revealed abnormal spontaneous activities of the bilateral bulbocavernosus (BC) muscles. Electrodiagnostic testing revealed chronic bilateral sacral polyradiculopathy, compatible with CES. After treatment, the patient reported an improved perianal sensation, less strain and time for defecation than before, and satisfaction with her bowel condition. At the follow-up electrodiagnosis, the BCR latency was normal on the right side\u2014needle EMG revealed reductions in the abnormal spontaneous activities of both BC muscles and re-innervation of the right BC muscle. Electrodiagnostic testing can offer insight into the neurophysiological effects of ES, which can help in understanding the mechanism of action and optimizing the therapy for patients with NBD.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina59030588","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,17]],"date-time":"2023-03-17T03:33:57Z","timestamp":1679024037000},"page":"588","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Neurophysiological Effects of Electrical Stimulation on a Patient with Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction and Cauda Equina Syndrome after Spinal Anesthesia: A Case Report"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"59","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6867-2896","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Seung-Kyu","family":"Lim","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Cheonan 31151, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8351-5226","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chang Han","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Changwon 51472, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Min-Kyun","family":"Oh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju 52727, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6453-8649","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Se-Woong","family":"Chun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Changwon 51472, Republic of Korea"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,3,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1800","DOI":"10.12688\/f1000research.20529.1","article-title":"Neurogenic bowel dysfunction","volume":"8","author":"Emmanuel","year":"2019","journal-title":"F1000Res"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1233","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02055170","article-title":"Colorectal function in patients with spinal cord lesions","volume":"40","author":"Krogh","year":"1997","journal-title":"Dis. 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