High voltage pulsed current stimulation of the sciatic nerve in rats: analysis by the SFI.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the efficiency of high voltage pulsed current (HVPC) with early application in three different sites, in the regeneration of the sciatic nerve in rats submitted to crush injury, the sciatic functional index (SFI) was used to assess the functional recovery.


METHODS
After crushing of the nerve, 57 animals were submitted to cathodal HVPC at frequency of 50Hz and voltage of 100V, 20 minutes per day, 5 days per week. The rats were divided into five groups: control group; ganglion group; ganglion + muscle group; muscle group; and sham group. The SFI was determined weekly for seven weeks, from the preoperative period to the 6(th) postoperative week.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the results showed a significantly better performance of group 2 for the first 3 weeks; group 3 showed significantly better performance in the third week; and group 4 showed a significantly negative performance during the 4(th) and 6(th) weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Early application of HVPC had a positive effect in the treatment of the spinal cord region and the sciatic nerve root ganglion with a dispersive electrode on the contralateral lumbar region or on the gastrocnemius. However, HVPC had a negative effect in the treatment with an active electrode on the gastrocnemius and a dispersive electrode on the contralateral thigh. Level of evidence II, Prospective comparative study.
Department of Health Sciences Applied to the Musculoskeletal System of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil.
Anita Sofia Leite
AS
Leoni
Department of Health Sciences Applied to the Musculoskeletal System of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil.
Nilton
N
Mazzer
Department of Health Sciences Applied to the Musculoskeletal System of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil.
Rinaldo Roberto de Jesus
RR
Guirro
Department of Health Sciences Applied to the Musculoskeletal System of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil.
Fernanda Guadallini
FG
Jatte
Laboratory of Human Learning, Interactive Multimedia and Computerized Education of Universidade Federal de São Carlos - São Paulo, Brazil.
Paulo Augusto Costa
PA
Chereguini
Postdoctoral Course of the School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo, Brazil.
Vanessa Vilela
VV
Monte-Raso
Crush injury; Electric stimulation; Rats; Sciatic nerve; Spinal cord