【Animal modeling】-Effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation on end-to-side anastomosis of peripheral nerves in rats

  Objective To observe and explore the effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation on nerve regeneration after nerve end-to-side anastomosis and its clinical value.

  Methods Thirty-two male SD rats were selected and randomly divided into the normal control group (group A), the musculocutaneous nerve injury group anastomosed from the rear end to the ulnar nerve group (group B), and the musculocutaneous nerve injury rear end anastomosis to the ulnar nerve group (group B). Group C), the musculocutaneous nerve injury was anastomosed to the ulnar nerve + postoperative percutaneous electrical stimulation group (group D). The muscle strength recovery of the affected limbs and the regeneration of nerve fibers in each group were observed.

  Results The amplitude and conduction velocity of rats in groups C and D were lower than those in group A, and the latency was higher than that in group A; while the amplitude and conduction velocity of rats in group D were lower than those in group C, and the latency was higher than that in group C; The wet weight ratio of biceps brachii and the cross-sectional area of muscle fibers in rats were lower than those in group A, and the muscle recovery in group C was the worst; The expression of -200 was significantly stronger than that of group C, but still significantly less than that of group B, and the differences were all significant (P < 0.05). Electron microscopy showed that the myelin sheaths of nerve fibers in group B were mature, while those in group C were dominated by unmyelinated nerve fibers with poor myelin sheath maturity. The myelin hyperplasia in group D was better than that in group C, but some unmyelinated nerve fibers still existed.

  Conclusions Percutaneous electrical stimulation after nerve end-to-side anastomosis can effectively promote the regeneration of nerve axons and delay the denervation atrophy of target muscles. Although there is a gap compared with end-to-end nerve anastomosis, it is still one of the effective methods for clinical repair of peripheral nerve injury.