Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2010 Oct;24(8):730-5. doi: 10.1177/1545968310376758. Epub 2010 Aug 12.
The timing of electrical stimulation (ES) after peripheral nerve transection may enhance axonal regeneration and functional recovery.
The authors examined whether percutaneous ES at 1 mA and 2 Hz affects regeneration between the proximal and distal nerve stumps.
Four groups of adult rats were subjected to sciatic nerve section followed by repair using silicone rubber conduits across a 10-mm gap. All groups received ES for 15 minutes every other day for 2 weeks. Stimulation was initiated on day 1 following the nerve repair for group A, day 8 for group B, and day 15 for group C. The control group D received no ES.
At 6 weeks after surgery in groups B and C, histological evaluations showed a significantly higher number of regenerated myelinated fibers in the sciatic nerve, and the electrophysiological results showed higher levels of reinnervation with relatively larger mean values of amplitudes, durations, and areas of compound muscle action potentials compared with A and D.
A short delay in the onset of ES may improve the recovery of a severe peripheral nerve injury, which should be considered as a way of augmenting rehabilitative approaches.
周围神经切断后电刺激（ES）的时机可能会增强轴突再生和功能恢复。
作者研究了 1 mA 和 2 Hz 的经皮 ES 是否会影响近端和远端神经残端之间的再生。
四组成年大鼠接受坐骨神经切断术，然后使用硅橡胶导管修复 10mm 间隙。所有组均接受 15 分钟的 ES，每隔一天进行一次，共 2 周。刺激在神经修复后的第 1 天开始（组 A），第 8 天（组 B）和第 15 天（组 C）。对照组 D 未接受 ES。
在手术后 6 周，组 B 和 C 的组织学评估显示坐骨神经中有明显更多的再生有髓纤维，电生理结果显示神经再支配水平更高，与 A 和 D 相比，复合肌肉动作电位的幅度、持续时间和面积的平均值较大。
ES 起始时间稍晚可能会改善严重周围神经损伤的恢复，这应被视为增强康复方法的一种方式。
