Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42286696›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2026

Spinal cord neuromodulation for autonomic recovery following spinal cord injury: a scoping review.

Vivek K Pandey, Marco Law, Chris Shamatutu, Karina C Martin, Manvir Taunk, Parag Gad, Tom E Nightingale, Zakari R Dymock, Andrei V Krassioukov, Rahul Sachdeva

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Vivek K Pandey *Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Kentucky, 2050 Versailles Road, Lexington, KY, 40504, USA.
Marco Law *International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, 818 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.
Chris ShamatutuInternational Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, 818 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.
Karina C MartinInternational Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, 818 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.
Manvir TaunkInternational Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, 818 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.
Parag GadSpineX Inc, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Tom E NightingaleSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Zakari R DymockDepartment of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Kentucky, 2050 Versailles Road, Lexington, KY, 40504, USA.
Andrei V KrassioukovInternational Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, 818 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada. andrei.krassioukov@vch.ca.
Rahul SachdevaDepartment of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Kentucky, 2050 Versailles Road, Lexington, KY, 40504, USA. rahulsachdeva@uky.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSpinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts autonomic control, leading to cardiovascular, bowel, lower urinary tract (LUT), and sexual dysfunctions. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has shown therapeutic promise, but a comprehensive review of its effects on autonomic recovery after SCI has not been performed. PURPOSE: To synthesize evidence on the effects of SCS on autonomic functions, specifically cardiovascular, bowel, LUT, and sexual function, in animal models and individuals with SCI. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science; from date of inception to September 2025. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if they investigated the effects of SCS on cardiovascular, bowel, LUT, or sexual function in humans or animals with SCI. Of 2079 studies screened, 68 met inclusion criteria: 15 animals, 50 humans, and 3 involving both species. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were independently extracted, and final inclusion decisions were reached by consensus among authors. DATA SYNTHESIS: Both animal and human studies show that SCS enhances autonomic function after SCI. It improves bladder control, cardiovascular stability, and bowel motility in animals; and additionally alleviates neurogenic bowel symptoms, increases bladder capacity and compliance in humans. Improvements in sexual function were observed in both animal and human studies. LIMITATIONS: Evidence primarily comprises case reports, case series, and cohort studies, with few controlled trials. Mechanistic studies remain limited, and methodological heterogeneity restricts comparisons.

conclusionsSCS shows promise in improving autonomic dysfunction after SCI and enhancing quality of life. These findings inform priority areas for RCTs and mechanistic studies to optimize protocols and patient selection.

Indexed as

Autonomic Nervous SystemAutonomic Nervous System DiseasesSpinal Cord InjuriesSpinal Cord StimulationAnimalsHumansRecovery of FunctionSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalBladder functionBowel functionCardiovascular controlEpidural stimulationNeuromodulationSexual functionSpinal cord injuriesTranscutaneous stimulation

Identifiers

PMID42286696
PMCPMC13487970

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.