Applicative value of percutaneous nerve-muscle electric stimulation in the promotion of peripheral neuranagenesis

Nanping LIU; Haifeng SUN; Liming ZHOU; Li YANG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Degeneration and regeneration after peripheral nerve injury is a very complex pathophysiological process. It still needs to investigate the promotive effects of electric stimulation in neuranagenesis.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the effect and result of percutaneous nerve-muscle electric stimulation therapy in peripheral neuranagenesis of different position.

DESIGN:

A case analysis based on patients.

SETTING:

Laboratory of neuroelectrophysiology and department of orthopedics of a medical university affiliated hospital.

PARTICIPANTS:

Totally 78 patients with peripheral neurologic impairment proved by clinical diagnosis and electromyogram(EMG) were selected from the patients with peripheral nerve injury visited or hospitalized by the Department of Neurology and Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between October 1999 and June 2003.

METHODS:

Cantana EMG was used. Totally 78 cases received percutaneous nerve-muscle electric stimulation (PNMES) therapy for the observation of the restoration of peripheral nerve function. Therapeutic effectiveness of different course of disease was compared and analyzed by comparing and analyzing the EMG before and after therapy.

RESULTS:

In 78 patients with brachiplex nerve and sci atic nerve impairment, 53 cases had completely restored motor and sensory functions, 18 cases had significantly improved motor and sensory functions with the effective rate of 91% (71/78) after 1 to 10 courses of therapy. Post-therapeutic denervated potential, motor nerve conduction velocity(MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity(SNCV) were significantly improved compared with that of before therapy.

CONCLUSION:

PNMES therapy can promote peripheral neuranagenesis,improve the local blood circulation of the impaired nerve and elevate the excitability of nerve and muscle.