ThERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND ON ThE SPINAL CORD ACCELERATES REGENERATION Of ThE SCIATIC NERVE IN RATS

All the authors declare that there is no potential conflict of interest referring to this article. Citation: Jatte FG, Mazzer N, Monte-Raso VV, Leoni ASL, Barbieri CH. Therapeutic ultrasound on the spinal cord accelerates regeneration of the sciatic nerve in rats. Acta Ortop Bras. [online]. 2011; 19(4):213-8. Available from URL: http://www.scielo.br/aob. ABSTRACT Objective: To study the effects of low intensity ultrasound irradiation applied on the spinal cord on the regeneration of the rat’s sciatic nerve after a controlled crush injury, evaluating the functional results of the sciatic functional index as measured on the video recorded images of the foot sole. Methods: Eighteen rats were submitted to a controlled crush injury of the right sciatic nerve and divided into two groups according to the treatment: Group 1 (n=9), simulated irradiation; Group 2 (n=9), effective irradiation. Low-intensity ultrasound irradiation was started on the 7th postoperative day and applied daily for 6 weeks. Images of the animals ́ foot sole were video recorded on a see-through treadmill type walking belt machine at weekly intervals until the 6th week of irradiation and the corresponding sciatic functional index (SFI) was measured with specific software. Results: The SFI during the first and last week of treatment was -59.12 and -12.55 in Group 1, -53.31 and -1.32 in Group 2, indicating a 79% and 97% improvement, respectively, but differences between groups were only significant (p<0.05) during the third week. Conclusion: The authors conclude that low intensity therapeutic ultrasound enhances nerve regeneration, with significance during the 3rd week of treatment. Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective comparative study.