J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1998 Jun;33(3):501-507.

Electrical Stimulation for Early Axonal Regeneration after Nerve Surgery in Brachial Plexus Injury

• Kim SS
• Chun CH
• Kim DC
• Chae SU

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injury is relatively common in post-trauma surgery. Although various microsurgical techniques and repair methods can recover the continuity of the injurcd nerve. But, functional recovery achive is difficult. The purpose of this study examines the effect of electrical stimulation on muscle strength or sensibility increase in hrachial plexus injury with clinical results. We have retrospectively analyzed 44 cases of brachial plexus injury. The group(20 cases) which received nerve surgery and electrical stimulation was compared with the group(24 cases) which received nerve surgery only. Electrical stimulation was performed to nerve for axonal regeneration-strength & sensibility(18 cases) and to muscle for strengh(2 cases). All cases had heen evaluated for motor power recovery by 24 months after nerve surgery. A significant difference(P<0.05) between the power of elhow flexion and shoulder abduction, hut not sensibility of forearm in the two groups suggests that electrical stimulation to nerve or muscle enhanced the progress of nerve regeneration or muscle strength respectively. The results suggest that electricai stimulation is promising supplementary method for functional recovery in brachial plexus injury.

Keyword

Brachial plexus injury; Nerve regeneration; Muscle strength; Electrical stimulation

MeSH Terms

Axons*
Brachial Plexus*
Electric Stimulation*
Forearm
Muscle Strength
Nerve Regeneration
Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Regeneration*
Retrospective Studies
Shoulder