Work

PC36. Peripheral and Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation Improve Functional Outcomes of Nerve Recovery in a Rodent Forelimb Gap Repair Model

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Electrical stimulation (ES) has been shown to augment axonal regrowth when administered peripherally and evoke targeted neuroplasticity at the level of the cortex when administered to cranial nerves. The trigeminal nerve is a superficial somatosensory nerve that has not been explored for this indication. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that the trigeminal nerve can be used as a novel target for ES - and perform comparably to peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) - to improve functional outcomes of peripheral nerve injury in a rat forelimb model. METHODS: After being trained to proficiency in a reach and grasp task, 45 adult male Lewis rats were randomized into 4 groups: (1) sham injury, (2) nerve injury with sham ES, (3) nerve injury with intraoperative PNS, and (4) nerve injury with trigeminal ES (TNS) during post injury rehabilitation. Median peak force, task success rates, and paw withdrawal thresholds were collected both preinjury and throughout rehabilitation. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare groups. RESULTS: The sham ES group did not recover their pre-injury median peak force (P-value = 0.0252), percent success (P-value = 0.0013), or paw withdrawal thresholds (P-value = 0.0092) by the final week of recovery. The PNS and TNS groups reached functional recovery for median peak force, percent success, and paw withdrawal thresholds (P-value > 0.05, all) by the final week of rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: TNS and PNS are viable therapies to improve outcomes of nerve injury. It remains to be seen if these treatments would be synergistic in combination.

Source: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open

DOI: 10.1097/01.gox.0000934504.58094.da