Peripheral Nerve Dysfunction after Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to an immediate loss of sensory and motor function below the level of injury mostly affecting people in the prime of life. In addition to the primary injury there is accumulating neurophysiological and histological evidence of dysfunction in the peripheral nerves, not related to direct damage from the primary injury, which exacerbates muscle wasting, and contributes to further functional loss and poor recovery. Among the potential contributing factors are systemic inflammation, and motor neuron and myelin abnormalities that result from a lack of neural traffic. The reversibility of these factors, and prevention strategies and possible therapies that may be of benefit to the peripheral nerves in spinal cord injury require further investigation. Preventing or reversing peripheral nerve dysfunction after SCI is essential to maintain this critical component of the nervous system in readiness for the application of other emerging interventions focused on spinal cord repair.