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Pilot study of electrical stimulation on median nerve in comatose severe brain injured patients: 3-month outcome
C V Peri1, M E Shaffrey, E Farace
1University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
Primary Objective:
To determine if electrical stimulation (ES) benefits (waking time, 3-month outcomes) treated coma patients.
Research Design:
Double blind randomized-controlled study.
Methods And Procedures:
Ten coma patients; six treatment and four controls, using the 'Respond Select' by EMPI.
Experimental Interventions:
Treatment group received radial nerve ES applied in 300 ms intermittent pulses at 40 Hz, 15-20m A 8 hours a day up to 14 days of coma; control group received sham stimulation.
Main Outcomes And Results:
ES group emerged from coma mean 2 days earlier than controls, although this result was not statistically significant. At 3 months post-injury, there was no group difference in Glasgow Outcome Scale, although the ES group had improved function over controls as measured by the FIM/FAM (mean of 114 and 64.5, respectively, n.s.).
Conclusions:
These data show an interesting trend, although statistical power was limited in this small pilot study, suggesting the need for a larger trial.
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