Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of median nerve electrical stimulation on the activity, speech and quality of life in patients after severe traumatic brain injury. Methods 60 patients with severe traumatic brain injury were divided into 2 groups: the control group (A) and the treated group (B). The patients in Group A were treated with the routine medicine and rehabilitation. Based on the routine therapy, the patients in Group B were treated with the right median nerve electrical stimulation. Their outcome, activity, speech and quality of life were assessed. Results The scores of Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS), speech assessment, and the quality of life in Group B improved compared with that in Group A (P<0.05), the activity seemed to improve, but not significantly. Conclusion The right median nerve electrical stimulation is effective to promote the recovery of neurological function and improve the quality of life in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

Key words: traumatic brain injury, severe, median nerve, electrical stimulation, neurological function, quality of life