Therapeutic effect of methylprednisolone combined with high frequency electrotherapy on acute spinal cord injury in rats

Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to disability and mortality. This study aimed to explore a rehabilitation method combining methylprednisolone and high-frequency electrotherapy for SCI treatment in rats. The researchers created a rat SCI model and divided the rats into four groups: SCI only, methylprednisolone treatment, high-frequency electrotherapy, and a combination of both treatments. Spinal function was assessed using various tests. The study found that the combination treatment showed the most significant positive effects on SCI, suggesting it could improve symptoms by affecting BDNF, NF-κB, and inflammatory factors.

• 1
  All treatment groups showed significantly increased BDNF mRNA and protein expression levels, while NF-κB levels were reduced, compared to the SCI group.
• 2
  The treatment groups exhibited an elevated BBB score, improved SEPs and MEPs, inhibited caspase 3 activity, and downregulated TNF-α and IL-2 expression levels compared to the SCI group.
• 3
  The combination of methylprednisolone and high-frequency electrotherapy demonstrated more significant effects on SCI than either treatment alone.