How can transcranial magnetic stimulation change the way we treat traumatic brain injury?

Abstract

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health and socioeconomic problem worldwide. Despite improvements in the acute management of TBI over the past decades, which has led to better outcomes, there remains a need for novel treatment protocols that facilitate or enhance neuroplasticity and brain repair. There have been an increasing number of scientific publications describing the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for assessment and treatment in many research settings and clinical conditions, including TBI. Method: This study aimed to identify the role of TMS, a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, in the assessment and treatment of TBI by reviewing articles published to date from the PubMed database. Results: Most published articles on TMS in TBI are case reports. The use of TMS was reported as both a diagnostic tool and therapeutic instrument. There are few controlled trials of TMS in patients with TBI. Conclusion: TMS has the potential to modify the care of patients with TBI. TMS is an important instrument for evaluating brain injury from a functional perspective and also providing insights into neuromodulation approaches that may enhance recovery.