CLINICAL EXPERIENCE OF FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION (FES) FOR RESTORATION OF TETRAPLEGIC HAND FUNCTION

「Abstract」The purpose of this study was to evaluate the improvement of hand grasp function in tetraplegia using percutaneous intramuscular electrodes and a portable functional electrical stimulation (FES) system. Five subjects with tetraplegia caused by spinal cord injury were participated in this study. The FES system provided two hand grasp patterns (palmar and lateral grasp). The average follow-up period was 3 years. The average number of percutaneous electrodes was 16 (range, 9-20). Three patients of five had restored hand function. They showed an increased level of independence in eating, drinking, writing and self-care. One patient (complete C6 tetraplegia) was excluded because the finger flexors showed no contraction through the pre-surgical test stimulation, and one patient (incomplete C7) showed improvement with the hand function through therapeutic electrical stimulation and FES was not. adopted. The results suggest that the FES system can significantly improve the functional ability of teteraplegic patients.