Artikel
FES Therapy as on option for treatment of drop foot – long term results of a prospective study using an implantable peroneal nerve stimulation
Die funktionelle Elektrotherapie (FES) als eine Therapieoption der Fußheberparese. Langzeitergebnisse einer prospektiven Studie eines implantierbaren Nervus peronaeus-Stimulators
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Veröffentlicht: | 8. Mai 2019 |
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Objective: Therapy of drop foot induced by damage of the central nervous system (first motor neuron) ranges from orthotic solutions, reconstructive tendon transfer surgeries up to functional electrostimulation (FES). This study addresses the following question: Is FES as neuromodulation procedure able to offer a standard therapy for drop foot in the future?
Methods: We reevaluated 25 patients suffering from drop foot of central etiology, two years after they were implanted with a peroneal nerve stimulator with respect to improvement of the dorsal flexion (foot lift).
The following parameters were investigated using a standardized gait analysis protocol described in the previous study:
- Walking speed
- Walking distance
- Activation time of the system and
- Patient’s satisfaction
Results: Patients, who had received the implantable peroneal nerve stimulator showed eventwo years after implantation a significant gait speed improvement of 22%, an increase of the gait distance of 38% and a decrease of the activation time of the system of 16%.
Conclusion: We are able to confirm long term improvement of all investigated gait parameters. There was no change of improvement compared to the 6 month follow up reported in a previous study paper.
The safe gait control and the improved quality of life reported by patients, makes the implantable peroneal nerve stimulation to an important alternative neuromodulatory therapy option.
Key Words: Stroke, drop foot, implantable stimulator, functional neurosurgery, neuromodulation