The use of brief post‐surgical low frequency electrical stimulation to enhance nerve regeneration in clinical practice

Despite efforts to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, there has been little progress in improving clinical outcomes. Recently, a method of brief post‐surgical low frequency electrical stimulation of surgically repaired nerves has been developed. It was shown to accelerate axon outgrowth across t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Journal of physiology Vol. 594; no. 13; pp. 3553 - 3559
Main Authors:	Chan, K. M., Curran, M. W. T., Gordon, T.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-07-2016 John Wiley and Sons Inc
Subjects:	Animals Electric Stimulation - methods Electric Stimulation Therapy Humans Nerve Regeneration Neuroscience Peripheral Nerve Injuries - therapy Symposium Review Symposium section reviews: Axon regeneration and remyelination in the peripheral and central nervous systems
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Summary:	Despite efforts to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, there has been little progress in improving clinical outcomes. Recently, a method of brief post‐surgical low frequency electrical stimulation of surgically repaired nerves has been developed. It was shown to accelerate axon outgrowth across the repair site and it hastened target reinnervation. In this brief review, we describe the mechanistic insights and functional impacts of the post‐surgical electrical stimulation that have been gained through animal studies. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, cyclic AMP and regeneration‐associated genes play a vital role in expediting the outgrowth of axons across the injury site. The method of stimulation has also been shown to be effective in patients with severe compressive neuropathy as well as those with digital nerve laceration. Its clinical feasibility and positive impact open the door of further clinical translation in other peripheral nerve injuries. Much insights into the mechanisms and effects of brief low frequency post‐surgical electrical stimulation on peripheral nerve regeneration were obtained from cell culture and animal studies. This treatment has now taken to the clinic and was shown to be effective in accelerating motor and sensory recovery in distal nerve injuries. This opens the door of further clinical translation in severe proximal nerve injuries that currently carry poor functional outcomes.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-1 ObjectType-Article-1 ObjectType-Feature-2
ISSN:	0022-3751 1469-7793
DOI:	10.1113/JP270892