• C V Peri, M E Shaffrey, E Farace, E Cooper, W M Alves, J B Cooper, J S Young, and J A Jane.
• University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
• Brain Inj. 2001 Oct 1; 15 (10): 903-10.

Primary ObjectiveTo determine if electrical stimulation (ES) benefits (waking time, 3-month outcomes) treated coma patients.Research DesignDouble blind randomized-controlled study.Methods And ProceduresTen coma patients; six treatment and four controls, using the 'Respond Select' by EMPI.Experimental InterventionsTreatment 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 ResultsES 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.).ConclusionsThese 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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