biostudies-literatureUnknown6Ren YEpidural electrical stimulation (EES) has emerged as a promising treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the therapeutic potential of EES in functional recovery following incomplete SCI remains limited, with few studies of a large sample size. This study included 11 patients who received EES combined with physical therapy (PT) and 10 who received only PT. Follow-ups were conducted pre-surgery, post-surgery, and at 19 to 25 months postoperatively. After the surgery, patients in the EES + PT group showed significant improvements in sensory function (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and muscle spasticity (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Long-term follow-up indicated that the EES + PT group had significant improvements in sensory function (<i>P</i> < 0.001), muscle spasticity (<i>P</i> < 0.01), and urinary function (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Among them, all 11 patients had improvements in sensory function and muscle spasticity, and 6 of 11 reported an improvement in urinary function. Moreover, of the 5 patients with neuropathic pain, 4 exhibited reduced pain scores. Compared with the PT-only group, the EES + PT group had significantly better recovery in sensory function (<i>P</i> < 0.01), muscle spasticity (<i>P</i> < 0.0001), muscle strength (<i>P</i> < 0.01), and bowel function (<i>P</i> < 0.01). Further analysis suggested that patients with less severe SCIs in the EES + PT group tend to achieve better functional recovery. With a relatively large sample size compared to those in previous studies, this study confirms the promising therapeutic effects of EES in SCI. EES combined with PT provides a potential approach for functional recovery in patients with incomplete SCI.Cyborg and bionic systems (Washington, D.C.)0314https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12280331biostudies-literatureEpidural Electrical Stimulation for Functional Recovery in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury.PMC12280331Zhu PLiang FRen YLu JHan XMo LJia WYin MZhao JfalseEpidural Electrical Stimulation for Functional Recovery in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury.Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) has emerged as a promising treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the therapeutic potential of EES in functional recovery following incomplete SCI remains limited, with few studies of a large sample size. This study included 11 patients who received EES combined with physical therapy (PT) and 10 who received only PT. Follow-ups were conducted pre-surgery, post-surgery, and at 19 to 25 months postoperatively. After the surgery, patients in the EES + PT group showed significant improvements in sensory function (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and muscle spasticity (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Long-term follow-up indicated that the EES + PT group had significant improvements in sensory function (<i>P</i> < 0.001), muscle spasticity (<i>P</i> < 0.01), and urinary function (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Among them, all 11 patients had improvements in sensory function and muscle spasticity, and 6 of 11 reported an improvement in urinary function. Moreover, of the 5 patients with neuropathic pain, 4 exhibited reduced pain scores. Compared with the PT-only group, the EES + PT group had significantly better recovery in sensory function (<i>P</i> < 0.01), muscle spasticity (<i>P</i> < 0.0001), muscle strength (<i>P</i> < 0.01), and bowel function (<i>P</i> < 0.01). Further analysis suggested that patients with less severe SCIs in the EES + PT group tend to achieve better functional recovery. With a relatively large sample size compared to those in previous studies, this study confirms the promising therapeutic effects of EES in SCI. EES combined with PT provides a potential approach for functional recovery in patients with incomplete SCI.2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252025-08-23T03:08:51.576Z2025-08-23T03:08:51.576ZS-EPMC122803314069754210.34133/cbsystems.0314