Wether VNS in Early Stage (3 Months) is Safe and More Beneficial for Post-stroke Motor Rehabilitation

The Comparison of Safety and Treatment Results Between Early (<6 Months) and Late (> 6 Months) Vagus Stimulation for Post-stroke Motor Rehabilitation: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Upper-extremity impairment after stroke remains a major therapeutic challenge and a target of neuromodulation treatment efforts. In previous study, Vagus nerve stimulation was constricted to patients 9 months after stroke. In this randomized phase I trial, we would apply vagus nerve stimulation in an early stage (<6 month) and observe its theraputic effect on motor function after ischaemic Stroke.We hypothesized that the early stimulation could be safe and more beneficial compared to stimulation in late stage.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligible individuals suffered a first-time, unilateral, ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory that spared the diencephalon and basal ganglia 3-36 months before surgery.

  • Individuals with persistent moderate-to-severe upper-extremity hemiparesis as defined by an FM-UE score of ≤42
  • Sufficient upper-extremity motor ability to engage in rehabilitation (that is, a score of ≥1 on the FM-UE elbow flexion, elbow extension or finger mass flexion or extension).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Excessive spasticity or contracture of the upper-extremity muscles (that is, Modified Ashworth Scale = 4) . Severe cognitive impairment (Mini Mental State Examination < 24)