Safety of mapping the motor networks in the spinal cord using penetrating microelectrodes in Yucatan minipigs

J Neurosurg Spine, 2024 · DOI: 10.3171/2024.2.SPINE23757 · Published: May 10, 2024

Spinal Cord Injury Physiology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the safety of using small electrodes to map the areas in the spinal cord that control movement. The goal is to find a safe way to improve electrical stimulation treatments for people with spinal cord injuries. Researchers used Yucatan minipigs because their spinal cords are similar to human spinal cords. They inserted tiny electrodes into the pigs' spinal cords to stimulate different areas and observe the resulting movements. The study found that this method of mapping the spinal cord appears to be safe in pigs, with most animals recovering normal movement after a short period. This suggests it could potentially be used in humans to improve treatments for spinal cord injuries.

Study Duration

4 weeks

Participants

11 Yucatan minipigs (YMPs): 8 experimental, 3 sham controls

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
All YMPs showed transient deficits in hindlimb function postoperatively.
2
Except for 1 YMP in the experimental group, all animals regained normal ambulation and balance (PTIBS score 10) at the end of weeks 3 and 4.
3
Overground gait kinematic measures and EMG activity showed no significant (p > 0.05) differences between preoperative and postoperative values, and between the experimental and sham groups.

Research Summary

This study assessed the safety of mapping spinal cord locomotor networks using penetrating stimulation microelectrodes in Yucatan minipigs (YMPs). The researchers found that mapping spinal locomotor networks in porcine models can be performed safely, without lasting damage to the spinal cord. The findings suggest that this approach is potentially a safe procedure to be used clinically for mapping the locomotor networks in humans.

Practical Implications

Improved Spinal Cord Stimulation

Mapping the locomotor networks can help refine the targeting locations for spinal cord stimulation, potentially improving its effectiveness for restoring function after spinal cord injury.

Clinical Translation

The study's findings support the potential for translating this mapping technique to human clinical applications, specifically during spinal cord surgery for individuals with severe SCI.

Enhanced Precision of Interventions

By collecting information about the location and organization of locomotor-related neural networks, the precision of interventions used for recovery of function after severe SCI can be enhanced.

Study Limitations

1
The study was constrained to using 125-µm microelectrodes with conical tips because of our preference for using commercially available, FDA-approved microelectrodes for the mapping procedure.
2
The recording of muscle activity was limited to muscles that can be reached via surface EMG recordings.
3
force plates that provide quantified information about weight-bearing were not used in this study.

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