Humans at the dawn of the in-body electrical nerve stimulation era

BACKGROUND: The neuroprosthesis laparoscopic implantation technique for electric pelvic nerve stimulation was introduced to gynaecology over 15 years ago to treat intractable pelvic neuropathic pain. Following this first indication, other applications were developed, particularly in parapleology. The LION procedure developed to assist patients with paraplegia and common problems associated with inertia when confined to a wheelchair could find revolutionary applications in aging medicine and prevention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Spinal cord injured patients who have undergone the Possover’s LION procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: PubMed was systematically searched to identify peer-reviewed articles published in English that reported on LION procedure. RESULTS: Three independent studies published recently (100 patients worldwide) have shown revolutionary recovery of supra-spinal control in patients with chronic spinal cord injury following pelvic nerves stimulation, with 70% of them establishing a walker/crutches-assisted gait. The same studies have also shown significant whole-body muscle-mass building, peripheral vasodilatation, and an unexpected improvement in bone mineral density. CONCLUSION: These ground-breaking findings could find revolutionary applications in aging medicine and the prevention of osteoporosis, with a huge impact on global public health. Humanity is on the cusp of an exciting new era following the introduction of the in-body electrical nerve stimulation technique. WHAT'S NEW? In-body electrical nerve stimulation for recovery and/or control of human peripheral somatic and autonomic nervous systems.