• Andrew K Chan, Alexander Ballatori, Priya Nyayapati, Nikhil V Mummaneni, Dezba Coughlin, Ellen Liebenberg, Fabrice A Külling, Nianli Zhang, Erik I Waldorff, James T Ryaby, and Jeffrey C Lotz.
• Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
• Spine. 2021 Feb 15; 46 (4): E222E233E222-E233.

Study DesignAn experimental animal study.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on recovery of sensorimotor function in a rodent model of disc herniation (DH).Summary Of Background DataRadiculopathy associated with DH is mediated by proinflammatory cytokines. Although we have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of PEMF on various tissues, we have not investigated the potential therapeutic effect of PEMF on radiculopathy resulting from DH.MethodsNineteen rats were divided into three groups: positive control (PC; left L4 nerve ligation) (n = 6), DH alone (DH; exposure of left L4 dorsal root ganglion [DRG] to harvested nucleus pulposus and DRG displacement) (n = 6), and DH + PEMF (n = 7). Rodents from the DH + PEMF group were exposed to PEMF immediately postoperatively and for 3 hours/day until the end of the study. Sensory function was assessed via paw withdrawal thresholds to non-noxious stimuli preoperatively and 1 and 3 days postoperatively, and every 7 days thereafter until 7 weeks after surgery. Motor function was assessed via DigiGait treadmill analysis preoperatively and weekly starting 7 days following surgery until 7 weeks following surgery.ResultsAll groups demonstrated marked increases in the left hindlimb response threshold postoperatively. However, 1 week following surgery, there was a significant effect of condition on left hindlimb withdrawal thresholds (one-way analysis of variance: F = 3.82, df = 2, P = 0.044) where a more rapid recovery to baseline threshold was evident for DH + PEMF compared to PC and DH alone. All groups demonstrated gait disturbance postoperatively. However, DH + PEMF rodents were able to regain baseline gait speeds before DH and PC rodents. When comparing gait parameters, DH + PEMF showed consistently less impairment postoperatively suggesting that PEMF treatment was associated with less severe gait disturbance.ConclusionThese data demonstrate that PEMF accelerates sensorimotor recovery in a rodent model of DH, suggesting that PEMF may be reasonable to evaluate for the clinical management of patients with herniation-associated radiculopathy.Level of Evidence: N/A.Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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