Effects of percutaneous electrical stimulation on peripheral nerve regeneration using silicone rubber chambers

The purpose of this study was to determine whether 0.8-1 mA, 2 Hz of percut aneous electrical stimulation could affect the regeneration of a 10-mm, gap of rat sciatic nerve created between the proximal and distal nerve stumps, which were sutured into silicone rubber tubes. Six weeks after implantatio n, though the group receiving the electrical stimulation had a lower succes s percentage of regeneration (57%) compared with the controls receiving no stimulation (70%), quantitative histology of the successfully regenerated n erves revealed that the mean values of the axon density, blood vessel numbe r, blood vessel area, and percentage of blood vessel area in total nerve ar ea in the group with the electrical stimulation were all significantly larg er than those in the controls (p < 0.05). These results showed that the ele ctrical stimulation could elicit rehabilitating effects on the regenerated nerves. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.