Comparative Analysis Between Thoracic Spinal Cord and Sacral Neuromodulation in a Rat Spinal Cord Injury Model: A Preliminary Report of a Rat Spinal Cord Stimulation Model

This study aimed to compare the neuroprotective effects of thoracic spinal cord neuromodulation with sacral nerve neuromodulation in a rat model of thoracic spinal cord injury. Rats were divided into four groups: a control group, a spinal cord injury group with sham stimulation, a spinal cord injury group with thoracic spinal cord stimulation, and a spinal cord injury group with sacral nerve stimulation. The researchers assessed locomotor function, urodynamic function, muscle weights, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area to evaluate the effects of the different stimulation methods.

• 1
  All rats in the thoracic spinal cord stimulation group died within three days of the injury, likely due to cardiac complications.
• 2
  Sacral neuromodulation showed a significant improvement in the recovery of voiding contraction interval compared to the spinal cord injury group, indicating a potential benefit for neurogenic bladder.
• 3
  Muscle weight and cross-sectional area were slightly greater in the sacral neuromodulation group compared to the spinal cord injury group, suggesting a potential to mitigate muscle atrophy.