The Mechanism and Treatment Strategy of Neurogenic Muscle Atrophy

After peripheral nerve injury (PNI), axial buds emerge from the proximal end of the injured area, providing nerve supply to the skin and muscles of the injured area. Lower nerve regeneration, however, may result from sluggish axonal renewal. As a result, it could take a while for the skin and muscles in the wounded area to regain innervation from the proximal nerves. PNI generally does not threaten the patient's life, but it may cause atrophy in muscles that have lost nerve control. Long term denervation can lead to corresponding skeletal muscle atrophy. Currently, many studies are gradually focusing on neurogenic muscle atrophy, but its mechanism of occurrence is still far from fully understood, and the treatment methods are also relatively limited. At present, surgical treatment and electrical stimulation therapy are mainly used in clinical practice to prevent and treat neurogenic muscle atrophy. In recent years, with the development of technologies such as cell biology, molecular biochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and electrophysiology, people have delved deeper into the mechanisms of neurogenic muscle atrophy, and the underlying mechanisms have been continuously understood and discovered. New treatment methods have also emerged.