Short-term electrical stimulation to promote nerve repair and functional recovery in a rat model.

J Hand Surg Am

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Kenneth Calhoun Research Laboratory, Akron General Medical Center, Akron, OH; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH; Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO. Electronic address:

Published: February 2015

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of duration of electrical stimulation on peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Based on previous work, we hypothesized that applying 10 minutes of electrical stimulation to a 10-mm rat sciatic nerve defect would significantly improve nerve regeneration and functional recovery compared with the non-electrical stimulation group.

Methods: A silicone tube filled with a collagen gel was used to bridge a 10-mm nerve defect in rats, and either 10 minutes or 60 minutes of electrical stimulation was applied to the nerve during surgery. Controls consisted of a silicone tube with collagen gel and no electrical stimulation or an isograft. We analyzed recovery over a 12-week period, measuring sciatic functional index and extensor postural thrust scores and concluding with histological examination of the nerve.

Results: Functional assessment scores at week 12 increased 24% in the 10-minute group as compared to the no stimulation control group. Electrical stimulation of either 10 or 60 minutes improved the number of nerve fibers over no stimulation. Additionally, the electrical stimulation group's histomorphometric analysis was not different from the isograft group.

Conclusions: Several previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of 60-minute stimulations on peripheral nerve regeneration. This study demonstrated that an electrical stimulation of 10 minutes enhanced several functional and histomorphometric outcomes of nerve regeneration and was overall similar to a 60-minute stimulation over 12 weeks.

Clinical Relevance: Decreasing the electrical stimulation time from 60 minutes to 10 minutes provided a potential clinically feasible and safe method to enhance nerve regeneration and functional recovery.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2014.10.002DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

electrical stimulation
36
nerve regeneration
20
functional recovery
16
stimulation
13
regeneration functional
12
nerve
10
electrical
8
peripheral nerve
8
minutes electrical
8
nerve defect
8

Similar Publications

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are associated with a high failure rate. Our uncontrolled feasibility study aimed determining the effect of a transcutaneous electrical stimulation system (TESS) on GERD symptoms and acid exposure time (AET).

Methods: Recruited patients with heartburn and regurgitation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Dental impressions are crucial in pediatric dentistry, but exaggerated gagging can obstruct this process. Various methods have been proposed to manage the gag reflex (GR).

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of laser acupuncture and electroacupuncture in controlling children's GR.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Intraoperative neuropsychological testing (IONT) is a sophisticated method of cognitive mapping during the resection of brain tumors in eloquent areas. Direct electrical stimulation during awake craniotomy is routinely utilized for mapping basic language and sensorimotor function, but the utilization of IONT offers an individualized approach that can yield real-time, comprehensive feedback on various cognitive functions, allowing for a tailored and more extensive tumor resection. In this video, the authors present the case of a 41-year-old male undergoing re-resection for a recurrent right temporal astrocytoma in which IONT played a crucial role.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims And Objectives: The study aimed to compare the auditory perception status of children from different socioeconomic backgrounds, specifically urban versus rural. It also examined the correlation between outcome measures and the frequency of auditory verbal therapy sessions attended, as well as the impact of continuous electric analog stimulation on the age of implantation.

Material And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out on 30 children who have received unilateral cochlear implantation in rural versus urban backgrounds.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Although the accumulation of random genetic mutations has been traditionally viewed as the main cause of cancer progression, altered mechanobiological profiles of the cells and microenvironment also play a major role as a mutation-independent element. To probe the latter, we have previously reported a microfluidic cell-culture platform with an integrated flexible actuator and its application for sequential cyclic compression of cancer cells. The platform is composed of a control microchannel in a top layer for introducing external pressure, and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane from which a monolithically-integrated actuator protrudes downwards into a cell-culture microchannel.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!