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Kinematic Analysis of Gait Improvement Following Deep Brain Stimulation in Pigs With Spinal Cord Injury
Location: 27
Mentor: Dr. Brian Noga
Introduction: Spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently leads to impaired locomotion, limiting mobility and quality of life. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR), a major brainstem control center for walking which encompasses the pedunculopontine (PPN) and cuneiform (CnF) nuclei, has traditionally targeted the PPN; however, recent research suggests the CnF may be more effective to improve gait. In this study, we investigated whether DBS targeting the CnF could improve gait following SCI in a large animal model.
Methods: Female Yucatán micropigs (5-7 months of age) were implanted with FDA-approved DBS electrodes targeting the CnF and electromyographic (EMG) electrodes in forelimb and hindlimb muscles. Pigs underwent a mid-thoracic contusion incomplete spinal cord injury. Locomotor assessments on a manual treadmill were conducted pre-injury and at 1-, 2-, 4-, 8-, and 12-weeks post-injury. A Vicon MX motion capture system recorded 3D kinematics via joint and body markers, while EMG and video data were collected during DBS testing. Marker trajectories were analyzed using MATLAB to compute specific gait parameters, including duty cycle, joint excursion, and interlimb coordination.
Results: DBS within or near the CnF induced locomotion in all animals, with improved gait patterns seen over recovery relative to voluntary locomotion. Gait improvements were stimulation frequency-dependent, supporting its role as a potent neuromodulatory target.
Conclusions: This study supports the efficacy of CnF-DBS for restoring locomotion after SCI and highlights the pig as a powerful translational model for neuromodulation. Future work may inform optimized DBS protocols for clinical application in SCI and related gait disorders.
