Clinical experience of electronic peroneal stimulators in 50 hemiparetic patients

Fifty hemiparetic subjects were selected from a population of 250 patients according to criteria forsuitable candidates for peroneal stimulation. The patients received from 10 to 120 hours of treatment during 2--5 weeks. The therapeutic results obtained were classified into four groups, ranging from none to excellent improvement of voluntary movement and reduction of spasticity. The clinical results were correlated to different variables where time from lesion, spasticity, and extent of treatment appeared to be the most important ones. The percentage of excellent results decreased with increasing time from lesion and spasticity, and increased with increasing treatment. Orthotic validity (i.e. the beneficial effect of the orthosis) was observed in 76% of the selected cases and in most of them it was very significant. Preliminary tests performed on 9 subjects showed that in cases with orthotic validity the peroneal brace slightly reduces the oxygen consumption of patients and improves their motivation. This work gives a more quantitative perspective of the validity of functional peroneal stimulation and a better indication of criteria for patient selection. The overall validity of an electronic peroneal brace appears to apply to 15% of the total ambulatory hemiparetic population and its therapeutic value is relevant in two-thirds of such cases if sufficient treatment is provided. Application of functional electrical stimulation to non-ambulatory subjects in the acute phase may however lead to a higher percentage of cases of therapeutic validity.