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 ElectricalNeural Stimulation on Regeneration of Sciatic Nerve in DogDesign - Experimental in vivo study.Animals - A total of 15 adult male mixed bred dogs, weighing 26±2.6 Kg/BW with agingof 42±6 months, which were divided into three groups of 5 dogs.Procedures-Under general anesthesia, the right sciatic nerves were exposed and completelycrushed using artery forceps within 5 seconds in each dog. No treatment was given tocontrol group, dogs in experimental group (I) were subjected to electro-acupuncturetreatment daily for 10 minutes for a period of 15 days by locating BL60, SP9, GB30,andST36 acupoints using 4 Hwato needles of 0.3×40 mm with 50Hz frequency and 30 to100mA intensity and dogs in experimental group (II) were subjected to transcutaneouselectrical stimulation daily for 10 minutes using four superficial electrodes with 100 Hzfrequency and intensity of 80 Os (2.8 ±1.6 mA). Clinical signs were recorded for twomonths and electromyography was recorded from right semi-membranous, semitendinous,extensors and flexors groups of muscles in normal after crush and on 14, 28, and 45 days.Results- The right hind limb paralysis was observed in all dogs of three groupsimmediately after full recovery from anaesthesia. The positive effect of electro-acupunctureand transcutaneous electrical stimulation were observed on second week on skin woundhealing and increasing physical activity by improvement and changes in weight bearing andcoordination on 3rd week and normal coordination and full weight bearing on 5th week in alldogs of experimental groups. Significant changes in reduction of amplitude in all muscles which were persistence in semimembranous and semitendineosus in control group till endof observation period of 60 days were recorded. Significant improvement in amplitudewhich showed regaining muscle strength in both experimental groups was recorded at theend of 28 days.Conclusion and Clinical Relevance- Application of electro acupuncture andtranscutaneous electrical stimulation for regeneration of neural injuries and regainingmuscular function can be recommended in dogs.