Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41159099›Full record

ArticleNeuroscience insights2025

Sciatic Nerve Electrical Stimulation Enhances Locomotor Recovery in Rats Following Spinal Cord Contusion.

Shih-Yen Tsai, Jennifer A Schreiber, Jordan Iordanou, Son T Ton, Akram Imam, Brian E Powers, James S Walter, Martin Oudega, Gwendolyn L Kartje, Russ P Nockels

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neuroscience insights, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Shih-Yen TsaiResearch Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, IL, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4353-8045
Jennifer A SchreiberResearch Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, IL, USA.
Jordan IordanouDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1928-0167
Son T TonResearch Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, IL, USA.
Akram ImamResearch Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, IL, USA.
Brian E PowersResearch Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, IL, USA.
James S WalterResearch Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, IL, USA.
Martin OudegaResearch Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, IL, USA.
Gwendolyn L KartjeResearch Service, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, IL, USA.
Russ P NockelsDepartment of Neurosciences, Intent Medical Group, Endeavor Neurosciences Institute, Arlington Height, IL, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Spinal cord injury affects over 300 000 individuals in the United States with limited treatment options for significant locomotor functional recovery. While functional electrical stimulation devices to assist reciprocal muscle contraction during movement are used in rehabilitation, their efficacy as a standalone treatment for direct nerve stimulation remains unclear. Objective: This study investigated the effects of direct bilateral sciatic nerve stimulation on functional recovery in an adult rat model of thoracic spinal cord contusion. Method: Twenty adult male Long Evans rats underwent T10 spinal cord contusion. Custom stimulator electrode cuffs were placed around bilateral sciatic nerves in the hindlimbs. Rats received electrical stimulation or sham stimulation for 30 minutes per day (Monday-Friday) over 6 weeks. Functional outcome was assessed weekly using the BBB locomotor scale. Results: Both groups showed normal hindlimb function pre-surgery (BBB score 21) and significant decline post-SCI and prior to stimulation. Rats in the stimulation group demonstrated significantly better BBB scores than the sham group over time (repeated measures 2-way ANOVA, Conclusion: Daily bilateral sciatic nerve stimulation resulted in accelerated and significant improvement in hindlimb function after SCI compared to sham stimulation, as evaluated by BBB scores. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this effect.

Indexed as

electrical stimulationfunctional improvementperipheral nerveSCI

Identifiers

PMID41159099
PMCPMC12554933

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.