Characterization of neuronal death and functional deficits following nerve injury during the early postnatal developmental period in rats.

In contrast to adult rat nerve injury models, neonatal sciatic nerve crush leads to massive motor and sensory neuron death. Death of these neurons results from both the loss of functional contact between the nerve terminals and their targets, and the inability of immature Schwann cells in the distal stump of the injured nerve to sustain regeneration. However, current dogma holds that little to no motoneuron death occurs in response to nerve crush at postnatal day 5 (P5).

Daily Electrical Muscle Stimulation Enhances Functional Recovery Following Nerve Transection and Repair in Rats.

Background: Incomplete recovery following surgical reconstruction of damaged peripheral nerves is common. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to improve functional outcomes has not been effective in previous studies.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a new, clinically translatable EMS paradigm over a 3-month period following nerve transection and immediate repair.