Comparative Use of Electromyography in the Evaluation of Electroacupuncture and Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation (TENS) Effect on Regeneration of Sciatic Nerve in Dog

Objective-To determine the effect of Electroacupuncture and Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation on Regeneration of Sciatic Nerve in Dog   Design - Experimental in vivo study. Animals - A total of ۱۵ adult male mixed bred dogs, weighing ۲۶±۲.۶ Kg/BW with aging of ۴۲±۶ months, which were divided into three groups of  ۵ dogs. Procedures-Under general anesthesia, the right sciatic nerves were exposed and completely crushed using artery forceps within ۵ seconds in each dog. No treatment was given to control group, dogs in experimental group  (I) were subjected to electro-acupuncture treatment  daily for ۱۰ minutes for a period of ۱۵ days by locating BL۶۰, SP۹, GB۳۰, and ST۳۶ acupoints using ۴ Hwato needles of ۰.۳×۴۰ mm with ۵۰Hz frequency and ۳۰ to۱۰۰ mA intensity and  dogs in  experimental   group (II) were subjected to transcutaneous electrical stimulation daily for ۱۰ minutes using  four superficial electrodes with ۱۰۰ Hz frequency and intensity of ۸۰ µs (۲.۸ ±۱.۶ mA). Clinical signs were recorded for two months and electromyography was recorded from right semi-membranous, semitendinous, extensors and flexors groups of muscles in normal after crush and on ۱۴, ۲۸, and ۴۵ days.    Results- The right hind limb paralysis was observed in all dogs of three groups immediately after full recovery from anaesthesia. The positive effect of electro-acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical stimulation were observed on second week on skin wound healing and increasing physical activity by improvement and changes in weight bearing and coordination on ۳rd week and normal coordination and full weight bearing on ۵th week in all dogs of experimental groups.  Significant changes in reduction of amplitude in all muscles which were persistence in semimembranous and semitendineosus in control group till end of observation period of ۶۰ days were recorded. Significant improvement in amplitude which showed regaining muscle strength in both experimental groups was recorded at the end of ۲۸ days. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance- Application of electro acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical stimulation for regeneration of neural injuries and regaining muscular function can be recommended in dogs.

Keywords:

Acupuncture , TENS , Sciatic nerve , Dog