Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Muscle Nerve. 2011 Feb;43(2):251-8. doi: 10.1002/mus.21840.
We sought to determine whether electrical stimulation (ES) with subthreshold, continuous, low-frequency impulses is a viable clinical method for improving functional recovery after facial nerve crush injury. In 10 rabbits, bilateral crush injuries were made on the facial nerve by compression for 30 s with mosquito forceps, causing complete facial paralysis. Subthreshold continuous direct current ES with 20-Hz square-wave pulses was applied to the proximal stump on one side for 4 weeks. Vibrissae movement returned significantly earlier on the ES side, with a less variable recovery time. Electrophysiologically, the stimulated side had a significantly shorter latency, longer duration, and faster conduction velocity. Light and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the electrical stimulation also markedly decreased Wallerian degeneration. The average numbers of fluorescent, double-labeled nerve cells were significantly different between the ES and non-ES sides. This study shows that subthreshold, continuous, low-frequency ES immediately after a crush injury of the facial nerve results in earlier recovery of facial function and shorter overall recovery time.
我们试图确定阈下、连续、低频脉冲电刺激是否是一种可行的临床方法，可用于改善面神经挤压损伤后的功能恢复。在 10 只兔子中，用蚊式钳压迫面神经 30s 造成双侧面神经挤压损伤，导致完全性面瘫。在一侧的近段残端施加 20Hz 方波脉冲的阈下连续直流电 ES，持续 4 周。电刺激侧的触须运动恢复明显更早，恢复时间更具可变性。电生理学研究表明，刺激侧的潜伏期更短，持续时间更长，传导速度更快。光镜和透射电镜显示，电刺激还明显减少了瓦勒氏变性。荧光双标记神经细胞的平均数量在 ES 侧和非 ES 侧有显著差异。本研究表明，面神经挤压伤后立即进行阈下、连续、低频 ES，可使面神经功能更早恢复，总恢复时间更短。
