MRI Assessment of the Therapeutic Effect of Combined Electroacupuncture and Stem Cells in Acute Peripheral Nerve injury

We aimed to verify the efficacy of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) combined with electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury (PNI) using pathology and MRI. In a rat model of sciatic nerve crush damage, we found that BMSCs and EA combined therapy improved axon and myelin regeneration synergistically and significantly decreased post-injury nerve edema, improved axon guiding factor, and expedited motor function recovery. This suggests that a combination of BMSCs and EA can provide both topological and biomolecular guidance to promote axonal extension, myelin regeneration, and functional recovery after PNI.