scholarly journals Translational Approaches to Electrical Stimulation for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 979-985
Author(s):  
Seth C. Ransom ◽  
Shane Shahrestani ◽  
Brian V. Lien ◽  
Ali R. Tafreshi ◽  
Nolan J. Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Injury Severity ◽  
Environmental Influence ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Variable Capacity ◽  
Intraoperative Electrical Stimulation

Background Achieving functional repair after peripheral nerve injury (PNI) remains problematic despite considerable advances in surgical technique. Therein, questions lie regarding the variable capacity of peripheral nerves to regenerate based on environmental influence. In-depth analyses of multiple therapeutic strategies have ensued to overcome these natural obstacles. Of these candidate therapies, electrical stimulation has emerged a frontrunner. Extensive animal studies have reported the ability of brief intraoperative electrical stimulation (BES) to enhance functional regeneration after PNI. Despite these reports, the exact mechanisms by which BES enhances regeneration and its effects on long nerve lesions are largely unknown. Indeed, clinical translation of this seemingly simple therapeutic has not been so simple, but a few studies performed in humans have yielded highly encouraging results. Objective We aimed to help bridge this translational gap by presenting the latest clinical trials on electrical stimulation for PNIs in combination with relevant etiologies, treatments and nonclinical findings. Methods To do so, a systematic search was performed on PubMed, IEEE, and Web of Science databases up to February 2020 using keywords significant to our study. References of each manuscript were screened for additional manuscripts of relevance to our study. Results We found multiple BES clinical studies reporting enhanced functional recovery or increased nerve regeneration. Although improved outcomes were reported, high variability after BES is seen between and within species likely due to injury severity, location and timeline along with other factors. Conclusion Further clinical studies and introduction of novel delivery platforms are vital to uncover the true regenerative potential of electrical stimulationtherapy.

Direct Current Electrical Stimulation of Acupuncture Needles for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: An Exploratory Case Series

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motohiro Inoue ◽  
Yasukazu Katsumi ◽  
Megumi Itoi ◽  
Tatsuya Hojo ◽  
Miwa Nakajima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Stimulation Of

ACCELERATING AXON GROWTH TO OVERCOME LIMITATIONS IN FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY AFTER PERIPHERAL NERVE INJURY

Neurosurgery ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 65 (suppl_4) ◽  
pp. A132-A144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa Gordon ◽  
K. Ming Chan ◽  
Olawale A.R. Sulaiman ◽  
Esther Udina ◽  
Nasim Amirjani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Femoral Nerve ◽  
Axon Growth ◽  
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Adenosine Monophosphate ◽  
Clinical Tool

Abstract OBJECTIVE Injured peripheral nerves regenerate at very slow rates. Therefore, proximal injury sites such as the brachial plexus still present major challenges, and the outcomes of conventional treatments remain poor. This is in part attributable to a progressive decline in the Schwann cells' ability to provide a supportive milieu for the growth cone to extend and to find the appropriate target. These challenges are compounded by the often considerable delay of regeneration across the site of nerve laceration. Recently, low-frequency electrical stimulation (as brief as an hour) has shown promise, as it significantly accelerated regeneration in animal models through speeding of axon growth across the injury site. METHODS To test whether this might be a useful clinical tool, we carried out a randomized controlled trial in patients who had experienced substantial axonal loss in the median nerve owing to severe compression in the carpal tunnel. To further elucidate the potential mechanisms, we applied rolipram, a cyclic adenosine monophosphate agonist, to rats after axotomy of the femoral nerve. RESULTS We demonstrated that effects similar to those observed in animal studies could also be attained in humans. The mechanisms of action of electrical stimulation likely operate through up-regulation of neurotrophic factors and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Indeed, the application of rolipram significantly accelerated nerve regeneration. CONCLUSION With new mechanistic insights into the influencing factors of peripheral nerve regeneration, the novel treatments described above could form part of an armament of synergistic therapies that could make a meaningful difference to patients with peripheral nerve injuries.

Electrical stimulation as a conditioning strategy for promoting and accelerating peripheral nerve regeneration

2018 ◽  
Vol 302 ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.L.B. Senger ◽  
V.M.K. Verge ◽  
H.S.J. Macandili ◽  
J.L. Olson ◽  
K.M. Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Research Advancement on Injured Peripheral Nerve Regeneration by Stem Cells Combined With Electrical Stimulation*

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 540-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng-Cheng ZHAO ◽  
Yong-Gang LV ◽  
Yang ZOU ◽  
Xiao-Mei ZHANG ◽  
Guo-Bao CHEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Peripheral nerve injury therapeutics, including electrical stimulation, stem cell treatments, and synthetic neural scaffolds, have shown promising preclinical and even clinical results with potential regenerative treatment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moataz Dowaidar
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Functional Recovery ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Clinical Results ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Cell Therapies ◽  
Nerve Recovery

In the U.S., peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) harm about 22 million people. The most frequent causes and types of PNI vary by demography (civilians vs. military, geography/country). After crush injuries, functional recovery is better than after transections, and better after distal injuries than proximal ones. Despite advancements in microsurgical treatments, severe PNIs remain connected to slow recovery. This review highlights new peripheral nerve regeneration approaches (e.g. electrical stimulation, cell therapies), which may lead to a shift in PNI therapeutic paradigms in conjunction with neurotrophic agents and breakthroughs in bioscaffold engineering. It also examines how synthetic neural scaffolds can aid with peripheral nerve recovery, as well as the next generation of biomimetic neural scaffolding that can aid in tissue regeneration. Neurotrophic factor-enriched neural scaffolds, stem cell treatments, and electrical stimulation have shown promising preclinical and even clinical results. The future of peripheral nerve regeneration is bright, since a combination of the aforementioned treatments may have a synergistic impact on nerve regeneration and functional recovery in patients with PNI. Stem cell technology is improving and evolving, and it has been explored through a number of methods in preclinical research for peripheral nerve regeneration. Electrical stimulation is another interesting potential treatment for PNI that may be used to stimulate axon regeneration.

Electrical stimulation improves peripheral nerve regeneration in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

2012 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Hsu Yao ◽  
Ruey-Lin Chang ◽  
Shih-Liang Chang ◽  
Chin-Chuan Tsai ◽  
Fuu-Jen Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration ◽  
Diabetic Rats
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document