Resident Geisinger Health System Danville, Pennsylvania, United States
Introduction: Surgically implanted neuroprostheses aim to restore motor and somatosensory function by delivering controlled electrical impulses to paralyzed nerves. Recently, nerve cuff electrodes (NCEs) have been increasingly studied and may eventually offer the potential to recover somatomotor function in patients with neurologic injury. The goal of this study is to review the existing literature on motor and somatosensory applications of NCEs.
Methods: The PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant articles published between 2012 – 2022 describing use of neuroprosthetic NCEs for clinical somatomotor rehabilitation. Data from all relevant articles retrieved were collected and summarized.
Results: NCE-neural interfaces can restore both upper and lower extremity motor function in spinal cord injury patients and may provide a treatment modality superior to that of muscle-based electrodes. Currently, sensory NCE interfacing can restore and improve multiple aspects of sensation in amputees. While there is room for further study in various applications, technological improvements and wider clinical adoption, NCEs have been demonstrated to provide a clinically acceptable option in reducing intraoperative duration and morbidity, while preserving long-term functional stability, threshold charge maintenance, and acceptable mechanical failure rates.
Conclusion : NCEs are a promising therapeutic tool for motor and sensory restoration which provide patients a path towards an improved quality of life. Further studies may examine barriers to adoption of these viable technologies in everyday practice.
