Article

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether repetitive tibial nerve stimulation (RTNS)
affects neurogenic claudication and F-wave conduction in lumbar spinal stenosis.
DESIGN: An intervention study: before/after trial. SUBJECTS: Data for 12 central
lumbar spinal stenosis patients were compared with 13 age- and sex-matched
healthy volunteers. METHODS: A conditioning RTNS at the ankle, 0.3-ms duration
square-wave pulses with an intensity 20% higher than the motor threshold, was
applied at a rate of 5/s for 5 min. We assessed the effects of RTNS on the
claudication distance at which the lumbar spinal stenosis patients can no longer
continue walking due to increasing leg symptoms, and on tibial F-wave
measurements. RESULTS: A comparison between mean pre-RTNS and post-RTNS revealed
a significant difference in claudication distance (66 m (standard deviation (SD)
19) vs 133 m (SD 37); p = 0.003), mean F-wave minimal latency (48.3 ms (SD 1.7)
vs 44.8 ms (SD 1.0); p = 0.007) and mean F-wave conduction velocity (53.3 m/s (SD
2.0) vs 55.5 m/s (SD 1.9); p = 0.009) in the lumbar spinal stenosis group, but
not in the control group. CONCLUSION: RTNS has beneficial effects on neurogenic
claudication and F-wave conduction in central lumbar spinal stenosis patients.
This phenomenon may have practical value in providing a new therapeutic modality
for lumbar spinal stenosis.

Langue : ANGLAIS