The Contribution of Electrostimulation on Nerve Regeneration in Rabbits with Experimentally Induced Sciatic Nerve Injury

摘要

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation on nerve regeneration in sciatic crush injury model in rabbits. Sixteen New Zealand male rabbits, allocated into two equal groups were used in the study. All rabbits were anaesthetized, their sciatic nerves were exposed and crush injury was induced with Bulldog clamps. Distal motor nerve latency, Compound Muscle Action Potential recorded by the distal part of crush point (dCMAP), Compound Muscle Action Potential recorded by the proximal part of crush point (pCMAP) was recorded and Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) was estimated before and just after the crush injury. Electrical stimulation was performed for 90 times every day for 3 weeks. At the 21st day all rabbits were anaesthetized and their sciatic nerves were exposed and the same electrophysiological examination was carried out respectively. Distal motor nerve latency, dCMAP, pCMAP and NCV were not significantly different between groups (p>0.05). In conclusion, our study did not support the idea that was about performing electrical stimulation to injured nerves could increase regeneration. However, the higher amplitude of dCMAP in the experiment group at the end of the study can be accepted as a positive point for electrostimulation on nerve injury.