Presentation Type
Poster
Discipline Track
Clinical Science
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Temporary deafferentation (TD) is an approach aimed at improving motor and somatosensory performance by inducing temporary anesthesia, typically focused on the upper extremity. This approach has demonstrated the capacity to stimulate cortical plasticity, allowing reorganization of the primary motor and somatosensory cortices, which has proven useful in rehabilitation. Various techniques have been used to achieve temporary anesthesia, including pneumatic tourniquet cuffs, blood pressure cuffs, injections, and topical anesthetics. Here, we conducted a literature review to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of the different methods used to perform TD in the field of neurorehabilitation and sought to identify the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Methods: We conducted a literature review of neurorehabilitation studies that used TD. We performed searches in PUBMED, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar with the following terms: temporary deafferentation, ischemic deafferentation, temporary function deafferentation, deafferentation AND tourniquet, lidocaine hydrochloride AND deafferentation. We evaluated studies from December 2023 to 1992. Our search terms provided over 261 possible studies for inclusion in our analysis. We removed duplicate studies, studies not written in English and studies where the manuscript could not be retrieved due to archiving limitations.
Results: Our preliminary analysis revealed 18 studies that have been conducted on TD in neurorehabilitation, primarily in the population of stroke. TD methodology varied with topical anesthetics being the most common. Preliminary findings indicate the efficacy of all three methods at improving sensorimotor function in both anesthetized and non-anesthetized arms. However, variations were observed in the extent of improvement, with only some methods demonstrating prolonged retention. Additionally, certain techniques, such as cuffs and injections, were associated with pain, potentially affecting study outcomes if patients were unable to complete the trial.
Conclusion: Temporary deafferentation shows promise for neurorehabilitation as it has proven to improve motor and somatosensory performance. Although various techniques have been employed to achieve TD, evidence suggests that a topical method is preferred as it provides efficient results while minimizing patient discomfort. Further research is required to establish the best approach to achieve optimal deafferentation with the use of a topical anesthetic.
Academic/Professional Position
Medical Student
Mentor/PI Department
Neuroscience
Recommended Citation
Lozano Bonilla, Maria F.; Hensley, Jared; Butler, Hunter M.; and Baker, Kelsey, "A Comparative Literature Review on Temporary Deafferentation Techniques" (2024). Research Symposium. 3.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2024/posters/3
Included in
A Comparative Literature Review on Temporary Deafferentation Techniques
Background: Temporary deafferentation (TD) is an approach aimed at improving motor and somatosensory performance by inducing temporary anesthesia, typically focused on the upper extremity. This approach has demonstrated the capacity to stimulate cortical plasticity, allowing reorganization of the primary motor and somatosensory cortices, which has proven useful in rehabilitation. Various techniques have been used to achieve temporary anesthesia, including pneumatic tourniquet cuffs, blood pressure cuffs, injections, and topical anesthetics. Here, we conducted a literature review to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of the different methods used to perform TD in the field of neurorehabilitation and sought to identify the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Methods: We conducted a literature review of neurorehabilitation studies that used TD. We performed searches in PUBMED, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar with the following terms: temporary deafferentation, ischemic deafferentation, temporary function deafferentation, deafferentation AND tourniquet, lidocaine hydrochloride AND deafferentation. We evaluated studies from December 2023 to 1992. Our search terms provided over 261 possible studies for inclusion in our analysis. We removed duplicate studies, studies not written in English and studies where the manuscript could not be retrieved due to archiving limitations.
Results: Our preliminary analysis revealed 18 studies that have been conducted on TD in neurorehabilitation, primarily in the population of stroke. TD methodology varied with topical anesthetics being the most common. Preliminary findings indicate the efficacy of all three methods at improving sensorimotor function in both anesthetized and non-anesthetized arms. However, variations were observed in the extent of improvement, with only some methods demonstrating prolonged retention. Additionally, certain techniques, such as cuffs and injections, were associated with pain, potentially affecting study outcomes if patients were unable to complete the trial.
Conclusion: Temporary deafferentation shows promise for neurorehabilitation as it has proven to improve motor and somatosensory performance. Although various techniques have been employed to achieve TD, evidence suggests that a topical method is preferred as it provides efficient results while minimizing patient discomfort. Further research is required to establish the best approach to achieve optimal deafferentation with the use of a topical anesthetic.