Topical electrostimulation for correction of respiratory disorders in spinal cord injury: A review

BACKGROUND: A spinal cord injury can lead to paralysis of the respiratory muscles, resulting in a significant reduction in breathing ability. People with a spinal cord injury face an increased risk of developing various respiratory complications. To date, existing effective technologies positively affect the long-term recovery of respiratory function and create conditions for neuroplasticity in the injured spinal cord. The high relevance and lack of systematization of these techniques in the world literature served as the basis for describing a topical approach in electrostimulation for the correction of respiratory disorders in patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries. AIM: To formulate an algorithm for topical electrostimulation of the spinal cord and respiratory muscles to correct respiratory dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury based on the latest scientific literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article presents the results of the analysis of peer-reviewed articles that investigated the effects of various electrostimulation techniques on respiratory function in patients with spinal cord injury. Searches were performed on ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and PubMed for the period from 2000 to 2022. RESULTS: A spinal cord and muscle electrostimulation algorithm was formulated to personalize the treatment approach for patients with spinal cord injury depending on the level and period of traumatic spinal cord injury. CONCLUSIONS: Electrostimulation techniques were found to be effective in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, particularly for the correction of respiratory disorders. The choice of the appropriate neurostimulation technique depends on the severity, injury level, and period of injury. Noninvasive techniques, such as FES and TSSM, can be used from the acute period to the chronic period, whereas invasive techniques, such as epidural stimulation and respiratory pacemaker placement, are appropriate in the chronic period. Despite the positive results of these techniques, further research is needed to develop effective treatment plans and improve their effectiveness and long-term outcomes.