A study of tibial transcutaneous repetitive electrical nerve stimulation as a new therapeutic modality for lumbar spinal stenosis

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24592201
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Kochi University
• Principal Investigator: TANI Toshikazu 高知大学, その他, 名誉教授 (90136250)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KIDA Kazunobu 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系, 講師 (30325419) ; ISHIDA Kenji 高知大学, その他, 教授相当 (10274367) ; IKEUCHI Masahiko 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系, 教授 (00372730) ; KUMON Masashi 高知大学, 教育研究部医療学系, 助教 (20380371) ; IZUMI Masashi 高知大学, 医学部附属病院, その他 (60420569) ; TADOKORO Nobuaki 高知大学, 医学部附属病院, その他 (20457401)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 腰部脊柱管狭窄症 / 間欠跛行 / 保存療法 / 脛骨神経 / 反復電気刺激 / F波

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We studied the effects of repetitive tibial nerve stimulation (RTNS) on neurogenic claudication and F-wave conduction in a total of 45 patients with central lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) as compared with 13 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. A conditioning RTNS consisted of 0.3 ms in duration and of an intensity 20% higher than the motor threshold, applied at a rate of 5/s for 5 minutes to the ankle.
RTNS significantly increased claudication distance and the F-wave conduction velocity in the LSS group, but not in the control group. In the LSS group, this effect of RTNS on the F-wave was demonstrated not only on the side ipsilateral to RUNS but also on the contralateral side.
Evidenced by this study, RTNS should have practical value in providing a new therapeutic modality for LSS. The technique can be carried out at home with a portable stimulator running on lithium batteries for LSS patients to reduce claudication symptoms.

Free Research Field

脊椎脊髄外科