Stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region might improve limb function after incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI), a recent study suggests. Excitatory deep brain stimulation (DBS) restored hindlimb function to near-normal levels in rats with 20–30% sparing of reticulospinal fibres after chronic SCI. In many patients with SCI, a small number of such fibres persist after injury. The new findings indicate that DBS could provide a therapeutic strategy for treating gait disturbances in these individuals.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Bachmann, L. B. et al. Deep brain stimulation of the midbrain locomotor region improves paretic hindlimb function after spinal cord injury in rats. Sci. Transl. Med. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3005972
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Deep brain stimulation could provide a new approach for restoring motor function after spinal cord injury. Nat Rev Neurol 9, 659 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2013.236
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2013.236