Conor McHugh1, Clare Taylor1, David Mockler2, Neil Fleming1. 1. Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. 2. John Stearne Medical Library, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, School of Medicine, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Epidural spinal cord stimulation (ESCS) emerged as a technology for eliciting motor function in the 1990's and was subsequently employed therapeutically in the population with spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite a considerable number of ESCS studies, a comprehensive systematic review of ESCS remains unpublished. OBJECTIVE: The current review of the existing literature evaluated the efficacy of ESCS for improving motor function in individuals with SCI. METHODS: A search for ESCS studies was performed using the following databases: Medline (Ovid), Web of Science and Embase. Furthermore, to maximize results, an inverse manual search of references cited by identified articles was also performed. Studies published between January 1995 and June 2020 were included. The search was constructed around the following key terms: Spinal cord stimulation, SCI and motor response generation. RESULTS: A total of 3435 articles were initially screened, of which 18 met the inclusion criteria. The total sample comprised of 24 participants with SCI. All studies reported some measure of improvement in motor activity with ESCS, with 17 reporting altered EMG responses. Functional improvements were reported in stepping (n = 11) or muscle force (n = 4). Only 5 studies assessed ASIA scale pre- and post-intervention, documenting improved classification in 4 of 11 participants. Appraisal using the modified Downs and Black quality checklist determined that reviewed studies were of poor quality. Due to heterogeneity of outcome measures utilized in studies reviewed, a meta-analysis of data was not possible. CONCLUSION: While the basic science is encouraging, the therapeutic efficacy of ESCS remains inconclusive.
BACKGROUND: Epidural spinal cord stimulation (ESCS) emerged as a technology for eliciting motor function in the 1990's and was subsequently employed therapeutically in the population with spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite a considerable number of ESCS studies, a comprehensive systematic review of ESCS remains unpublished. OBJECTIVE: The current review of the existing literature evaluated the efficacy of ESCS for improving motor function in individuals with SCI. METHODS: A search for ESCS studies was performed using the following databases: Medline (Ovid), Web of Science and Embase. Furthermore, to maximize results, an inverse manual search of references cited by identified articles was also performed. Studies published between January 1995 and June 2020 were included. The search was constructed around the following key terms: Spinal cord stimulation, SCI and motor response generation. RESULTS: A total of 3435 articles were initially screened, of which 18 met the inclusion criteria. The total sample comprised of 24 participants with SCI. All studies reported some measure of improvement in motor activity with ESCS, with 17 reporting altered EMG responses. Functional improvements were reported in stepping (n = 11) or muscle force (n = 4). Only 5 studies assessed ASIA scale pre- and post-intervention, documenting improved classification in 4 of 11 participants. Appraisal using the modified Downs and Black quality checklist determined that reviewed studies were of poor quality. Due to heterogeneity of outcome measures utilized in studies reviewed, a meta-analysis of data was not possible. CONCLUSION: While the basic science is encouraging, the therapeutic efficacy of ESCS remains inconclusive.
Entities:
Keywords:
Spinal cord stimulation; spinal cord injury and motor response generation
Authors: Clare Taylor; Conor McHugh; David Mockler; Conor Minogue; Richard B Reilly; Neil Fleming Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-11-18 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Jeonghoon Oh; Alexander G Steele; Blesson Varghese; Catherine A Martin; Michelle S Scheffler; Rachel L Markley; Yi-Kai Lo; Dimitry G Sayenko Journal: iScience Date: 2022-08-31