Sacral neuromodulation for urinary retention caused by sexual abuse.

OBJECTIVE This case report describes the use of sacral neuromodulation to treat urinary retention after sexual abuse. METHODS Sacral neuromodulation was added to therapeutic regimen of a 38-year-old woman in whom chronic, complete urinary retention developed after psychological and sexual abuse during childhood. RESULTS The combination of psychotherapy and neuromodulation restored the patient's ability to void, whereas psychotherapy alone had not. CONCLUSIONS Although a multifactorial etiology of retention cannot be ruled out in this patient, neuromodulation might effectively treat urinary retention in cases of a conversion disorder after sexual abuse.