《Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice》 ›› 2023, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (8): 940-947.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2023.08.011

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with median nerve electrical stimulation on patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness in different age

MENG Xiangqiang1, XIONG Qi1, CHEN Gengfa2, BAI Yang1, ZOU Tianzi1, FENG Zhen1()   

  1. 1. The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China
    2. Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, China
  • Received:2023-08-07 Revised:2023-08-14 Published:2023-08-25 Online:2023-10-09
  • Contact: FENG Zhen E-mail:fengzhenly@sina.com
  • Supported by:
    Natural Science Foundation of China(82160437);National Key Research and Development Program of China(2020YFC2002904);Science and Technology Planning Project of Jiangxi Provincial Health Commission(202130145);Key Research and Development Program of Jiangxi Province(20202BBG72002)

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect of combination with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and median nerve electrical stimulation (MNS) on patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDOC) in different age.
Methods From January, 2021 to May, 2023, 93 patients with pDOC in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were divided into young group (≤ 45 years old), middle-aged group (46 to 60 years old) and elderly group (> 60 years old). All the groups were treated with rTMS and MNS for four weeks. The Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and Full Outline of Unresponsiveness Scale (FOUR) were used to evaluate the efficiency of awakening after treatment and the awakening ratios were compared among three groups weekly. Four weeks after treatment, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured with CT perfusion imaging. The score of Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOS-E) was compared six months after treatment.
Results From three weeks after treatment, the scores of CRS-R, GCS and FOUR increased in all groups (P < 0.05). After weekly treatment, there was no significant difference in the composition ratio of consciousness level and the awakening ratio among three groups (χ2 < 11.057, P > 0.05). After four weeks of treatment, rCBF improved in three groups (|t| > 2.495, P < 0.05), however, there was no difference among three groups (F < 1.887, P > 0.05). There was no difference in the score of GOS-E at six months after treatment (F = 3.083, P = 0.055).
Conclusion rTMS combined with MNS is effective on pDOC patients in different ages, and elderly patients could also benefit from it.

Key words: prolonged disorder of consciousness, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, median nerve electrical stimulation

CLC Number: