Analgesic Effects of Tonic and Burst Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation in Rats With Painful Tibial Nerve Injury

Neuromodulation, 2022 · DOI: 10.1111/ner.13472 · Published: October 1, 2022

Simple Explanation

This study investigates whether a different type of electrical stimulation, called burst stimulation, applied to the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) can help reduce pain in rats with nerve damage. The researchers compared burst stimulation to the standard tonic stimulation, looking at how well each reduced pain-related behaviors and whether they affected inflammation in the DRG. The results suggest that burst stimulation might be as effective as tonic stimulation for treating neuropathic pain, without causing additional tissue damage.

Study Duration

2 weeks

Participants

40 rats with tibial nerve injury, 14 rats without TNI, 6 rats with TNI

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
All waveforms tested (20 Hz-tonic, 20 Hz-burst, and 40 Hz-burst) showed similar analgesic effects in sensory tests and conditioned place preference.
2
Long-term DRG stimulation for two weeks did not change DRG expression of markers for nerve injury and neuroinflammation.
3
DRG stimulation with 20 Hz-burst, and 40 Hz-burst can relieve hyperalgesia measured by sensory tests and spontaneous pain measured by the CPP test.

Research Summary

The study evaluated the analgesic effects of burst DRG stimulation compared to tonic stimulation in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Results indicated that burst and tonic DRG stimulation had similar analgesic effects on sensory tests and conditioned place preference. Long-term DRG stimulation did not significantly alter markers of nerve injury or neuroinflammation in the DRG.

Practical Implications

Clinical Application

Burst DRG stimulation may be a suitable alternative to tonic stimulation for treating neuropathic pain.

Further Research

Further studies are needed to optimize stimulation parameters and explore the long-term effects of burst DRG stimulation.

Mechanism of Action

Additional research is required to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying the analgesic effects of DRG stimulation with different waveforms.

Study Limitations

1
Only tonic stimulation waveform was tested for continuous two week stimulation on expression of markers of neuroinflammation and injury.
2
Future studies with extended stimulation parameter variations along with longer stimulation duration will provide more detailed information about the therapeutic possibilities of burst waveform in DRG stimulation.
3
One limitation of this study is that we tested only tonic stimulation waveform for continuous two week stimulation on expression of markers of neuroinflammation and injury.

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