Improved rate of peripheral nerve regeneration induced by extracorporeal shock wave treatment in the rat.

摘要: De-focused low energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been widely used in various clinical and experimental models for the treatment of painful conditions such as epicondylitis plantar fascitis also bone wound healing. There is evidence that ESWT improves metabolic activity cell types, e.g. chondrocytes endothelial cells but little known about its effects on nervous tissue. The aim this study was to investigate whether regeneration injured nerves an rat model. Sprague-Dawley rats received 8mm long homotopic nerve autograft into right sciatic nerve, fixed with epineurial sutures. Two groups were set up: group 1 animals (300 impulses, 3 Hz) immediately after grafting whereas 2 (control) only autografts. Serial CatWalk automated gait analysis, electrophysiological studies morphological investigations carried out. survival time either weeks or months. At 6 8 exhibited a significantly improved functional recovery relative controls. Electrophysiological observations at surgery revealed marked values amplitude (3.9±0.8 mV, S.E.M.) compound action potential (CNAP, 5.9±1.4 mV·ms, group, there no detectable amplitudes control group. This finding accompanied by greater numbers myelinated fibres middle graft (4644±170 [S.E.M., ESWT] vs 877±68 control]) distal stump (1586±157 308±29 controls surgery. Three grafts contained great phagocytes unmyelinated fibres, while filled well-myelinated regenerating axons. significant difference between endoneural vessels nerves. months surgery, differences observed data. Equally high axons could be found both (7693±673 6090±716 control]). These results suggest induces rate axonal regeneration, phenomenon probably involving faster Wallerian degeneration, removal degenerated capacity regenerate.