Application of electroneurostimulation of the peroneal and tibial nerve in the treatment of patients with neurological deficiencies after lumbosacral discectomy

Abstract

In most patients after lumbar discoectomy, despite the elimination of root compression, the manifestations of chronic radiculopathy continue. Pain syndrome persists in 85.8% of patients, numbness in 74.1%, and paresthesia in 44.7%. Objective:to study the efficacy of transcutaneous electroneurostimulation (TENS) of the peroneal and tibial nerves in the treatment of patients with neurological deficit after undergoing discoectomy at the L4–S1 level. Materials and methods. After a course of pharmacotherapy, 15 patients underwent a course of direct stimulation of the peroneal and tibial nerves using transcutaneous electroneurostimulation, and 15 patients underwent a course of sham stimulation. Conclusion. Direct labile stimulation of the peroneal and tibial nerves using a monopolar current with a frequency of 1Hz, a duration of 200 μs and an amplitude that induces a painless motor response is a highly effective method of treating patients with residual clinical neurological manifestations after undergoing discoectomy at the L4–S1 level. Against the background of this method, the symptoms of tension, motor deficit, gait disturbance, impaired аchilles reflex and pain syndrome in the sensory and affective aspects are reliably regressed.