Objective: To investigate the effect ganglioside with nerve growth factor on the recovery of extremity functionality following spinal cord injury and somatosensory evoked potential.
Patients and methods: A total of 62 patients with spinal cord injury admitted to our hospital from February 2012 to October 2013 were selected and randomized to treatment (N = 31) and control groups (N = 31). The combination of systematic rehabilitation training and GM-1 intervention were prescribed to patients in the control group, while an additional intervention of mNGF (mouse nerve growth factor) was prescribed to patients in the treatment group. All patients were subject to Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and P- and N- wave latency of bilateral lower extremities by SEP method evaluations at 3 months before and after the intervention.
Results: Three months after the intervention, the FIM and MBI scores improved significantly in both groups, with significant recovery in the P- and N-wave latencies. (p < 0.05). The improvements in the FIM and MBI evaluations and P-, N-wave latencies of the treatment group were better than those of the control group. The post-treatment inter-group difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The combination of systematic rehabilitation training and GM-1 intervention plus mNGF is more effective in restoring extremity function following spinal cord injury. Somatosensory evoked potential can be an excellent index to evaluate rehabilitation efficacy and accurately reflect changes in neurological function.