title: Electrical muscle stimulation after immediate nerve repair reduces muscle atrophy without affecting reinnervation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electrical stimulation of denervated muscle has been shown to minimize atrophy and fibrosis and increase force in animal and human models. However, electrical stimulation after nerve repair is controversial due to questions of efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a rat model, we investigated the efficacy of short-term electrical muscle stimulation for increasing reinnervation and preventing muscle atrophy. After tibial nerve transection and immediate repair with the fibular nerve, 1 month of electrical stimulation was applied 5 days/week for 1 hour to the gastrocnemius muscle via implanted electrodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 2 months of further recovery without stimulation, muscle weights, twitch forces, and type I fiber areas were significantly greater in stimulated animals than in repaired controls without stimulation. Motor unit size and numbers were not different between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term electrical muscle stimulation after nerve repair significantly reduces muscle atrophy and does not affect motor reinnervation.
authors: School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada.
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Willand
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Holmes
authors: James R
authors: JR
authors: Bain
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: Fahnestock
authors: Hubert
authors: H
authors: De Bruin
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography; D005121:Extremities / Q000294:innervation; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013599:Systole
keywords: denervated muscle; electrical muscle stimulation; fiber type; functional recovery; gastrocnemius; high-frequency stimulation; motor unit estimation; muscle atrophy; rat; surgical repair