Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy: a retrospective cohort study

Background Postoperative voiding dysfunction is common after nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH); therefore, we examined whether adjunct transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) could improve bladder management, pelvic floor muscle strength, and quality of life (QoL) in this population.Methods A total of 78 NSRH patients from May 2023 to May 2024 were divided into conventional catheter management (control group, n = 39) and conventional management + TENS (intervention group, n = 39). Outcomes including urinary retention incidence, postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), catheter indwelling duration, intervention compliance, pelvic floor muscle strength grading, voiding function parameters, QoL scores, and safety were assessed.Results The intervention group demonstrated significantly lower urinary retention incidence, reduced PVR, and shorter catheter duration versus controls (all P < 0.05). Both groups maintained > 90% intervention compliance (P > 0.05). Post-intervention voiding parameters (FD, BC, MCC) improved more significantly in the intervention group (all P < 0.05), with superior pelvic floor muscle strength grading (P < 0.001). QoL assessment revealed lower functional domain scores and higher symptom/global health scores in the intervention group (all P < 0.001). Safety analysis showed only mild dermal reactions in the intervention group, without significant between-group difference in complication rates (P > 0.05).Conclusions TENS would significantly improves bladder function, pelvic floor muscle strength, and QoL in post-NSRH patients with a favourable safety profile, demonstrating substantial clinical value.