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Cryoanalgesia: electrophysiology at different temperatures
Linqiu Zhou1, Zhenhai Shao, Shihuan Ou
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, 5 West Gate Building, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. linqiu.zhou@uphs.upenn.edu
Abstract:
Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) and sensory conduction velocity (SCV) were measured in rabbit sciatic nerves following graded cold lesioning. The SEP disappeared when injury was induced at temperatures below -60 degrees C, but returned on day 41+/-4 (mean+/-SD). SEP returned on day 56+/-11 days when the lesion was induced at 100 to -180 degrees C. The SEP latency was prolonged after creating lesions at -100 to -180 degrees C, compared with both the sham operated and the -20 degrees C groups. These experiments suggest the cryolesions produced at temperatures between -60 and -100 degrees C are most suitable for altering the electrophysiological conduction of the nerve, and may result in suitable post-operative analgesia.