Advances in sciatic nerve regeneration: A review of contemporary techniques

Sciatic nerve injury, affecting the longest and thickest nerve in the human body, often leads to severe pain, weakness, and impaired motor function in the lower extremities. Despite the peripheral nervous system's inherent capacity for some degree of regeneration, complete recovery remains elus...

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Main Authors: Sardar Ali, Ming Sun, Muhammad Nadeem Khan, Fang Qiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Regenerative Therapy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352320425000926
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author Sardar Ali
Ming Sun
Muhammad Nadeem Khan
Fang Qiang
author_facet Sardar Ali
Ming Sun
Muhammad Nadeem Khan
Fang Qiang
author_sort Sardar Ali
collection DOAJ
description Sciatic nerve injury, affecting the longest and thickest nerve in the human body, often leads to severe pain, weakness, and impaired motor function in the lower extremities. Despite the peripheral nervous system's inherent capacity for some degree of regeneration, complete recovery remains elusive, necessitating advanced therapeutic approaches. This review explores two promising modalities electrical stimulation (ES) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) that have shown the potential to enhance nerve repair and functional recovery. ES, through techniques such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and direct current stimulation (DCS), facilitates neuronal regeneration by guiding axonal growth, releasing neurotrophic factors, and promoting synaptic plasticity. PRP, derived from autologous blood, is rich in growth factors such as Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nerve growth factor (NGF), which are essential for nerve regeneration, angiogenesis, and reducing inflammation. Clinical evidence supports the efficacy of ES and PRP in promoting nerve regeneration and functional recovery (Figure 1). However, further research is needed to optimize their application and understand their long-term outcomes. This review highlights the potential of these therapies to capitalize on their actions, potentially creating a robust regenerative milieu. Further research is needed to optimize treatment procedures and validate their efficacy and safety in humans.
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series Regenerative Therapy
spelling doaj-art-6b91620f98ef4a1a8cf9464e74b97e862025-08-20T03:53:12ZengElsevierRegenerative Therapy2352-32042025-06-012956357410.1016/j.reth.2025.04.016Advances in sciatic nerve regeneration: A review of contemporary techniquesSardar Ali0Ming Sun1Muhammad Nadeem Khan2Fang Qiang3Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), Shantou University Shantou 515063, China; Frontier Research Institute of First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College (SUMC), Shantou 515063, China; Corresponding authors. Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), Shantou University Shantou, 515063, China.Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), Shantou University Shantou 515063, ChinaDepartment of Cell Biology & Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, 515041 Shantou, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering (BME), Shantou University Shantou 515063, China; Corresponding authors. Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), Shantou University Shantou, 515063, China.Sciatic nerve injury, affecting the longest and thickest nerve in the human body, often leads to severe pain, weakness, and impaired motor function in the lower extremities. Despite the peripheral nervous system's inherent capacity for some degree of regeneration, complete recovery remains elusive, necessitating advanced therapeutic approaches. This review explores two promising modalities electrical stimulation (ES) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) that have shown the potential to enhance nerve repair and functional recovery. ES, through techniques such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and direct current stimulation (DCS), facilitates neuronal regeneration by guiding axonal growth, releasing neurotrophic factors, and promoting synaptic plasticity. PRP, derived from autologous blood, is rich in growth factors such as Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nerve growth factor (NGF), which are essential for nerve regeneration, angiogenesis, and reducing inflammation. Clinical evidence supports the efficacy of ES and PRP in promoting nerve regeneration and functional recovery (Figure 1). However, further research is needed to optimize their application and understand their long-term outcomes. This review highlights the potential of these therapies to capitalize on their actions, potentially creating a robust regenerative milieu. Further research is needed to optimize treatment procedures and validate their efficacy and safety in humans.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352320425000926Electrical stimulationPlatelets-rich plasmaSciatic nervesClinical studyNerve regenerationNerve growth factor
spellingShingle Sardar Ali
Ming Sun
Muhammad Nadeem Khan
Fang Qiang
Advances in sciatic nerve regeneration: A review of contemporary techniques
Regenerative Therapy
Electrical stimulation
Platelets-rich plasma
Sciatic nerves
Clinical study
Nerve regeneration
Nerve growth factor
title Advances in sciatic nerve regeneration: A review of contemporary techniques
title_full Advances in sciatic nerve regeneration: A review of contemporary techniques
title_fullStr Advances in sciatic nerve regeneration: A review of contemporary techniques
title_full_unstemmed Advances in sciatic nerve regeneration: A review of contemporary techniques
title_short Advances in sciatic nerve regeneration: A review of contemporary techniques
title_sort advances in sciatic nerve regeneration a review of contemporary techniques
topic Electrical stimulation
Platelets-rich plasma
Sciatic nerves
Clinical study
Nerve regeneration
Nerve growth factor
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352320425000926
work_keys_str_mv AT sardarali advancesinsciaticnerveregenerationareviewofcontemporarytechniques
AT mingsun advancesinsciaticnerveregenerationareviewofcontemporarytechniques
AT muhammadnadeemkhan advancesinsciaticnerveregenerationareviewofcontemporarytechniques
AT fangqiang advancesinsciaticnerveregenerationareviewofcontemporarytechniques