Effects of cortical intermittent theta burst stimulation combined with precise root stimulation on motor function after spinal cord injury: a case series study

• Published in: Neural regeneration research Vol. 17; no. 8; pp. 1821 - 1826
• Main Authors: Mao, Ye-Ran, Jin, Zhong-Xia, Zheng, Ya, Fan, Jian, Zhao, Li-Juan, Xu, Wei, Hu, Xiao, Gu, Chun-Ya, Lu, Wei-Wei, Zhu, Guang-Yue, Chen, Yu-Hui, Cheng, Li-Ming, Xu, Dong-Sheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.08.2022; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Engineering Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intelligent Rehabilitation,Ministry of Education,Shanghai,China; Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine,Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Shanghai,China%Department of Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation,Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital,Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center,Tongji University School of Medicine,Shanghai,China%Spine Surgery Division of Department of Orthopedics,Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine,Shanghai,China%Surgery Division of Department of Orthopedics,Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine,Shanghai,China%Spine Surgery Division of Department of Orthopedics,Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine,Shanghai,China; Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration, Ministry of Education,Shanghai,China%Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine,Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Shanghai,China; Department of Rehabilitation,Baoshan Branch,Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Shanghai,China; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: central motor conduction time; intermittent theta burst; lower extremity motor score; motor evoked potential stimulation; neuromodulation; neuronal plasticity; spinal cord injury; transcranial magnetic stimulation; Spinal cord injuries; neuromodulation; neuronal plasticity; spinal cord injury; lower extremity motor score; motor evoked potential stimulation; transcranial magnetic stimulation; central motor conduction time; intermittent theta burst
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.332158

Activation and reconstruction of the spinal cord circuitry is important for improving motor function following spinal cord injury. We conducted a case series study to investigate motor function improvement in 14 patients with chronic spinal cord injury treated with 4 weeks of unilateral (right only) cortical intermittent theta burst stimulation combined with bilateral magnetic stimulation of L3-L4 nerve roots, five times a week. Bilateral resting motor evoked potential amplitude was increased, central motor conduction time on the side receiving cortical stimulation was significantly decreased, and lower extremity motor score, Berg balance score, spinal cord independence measure-III score, and 10 m-walking speed were all increased after treatment. Right resting motor evoked potential amplitude was positively correlated with lower extremity motor score after 4 weeks of treatment. These findings suggest that cortical intermittent theta burst stimulation combined with precise root stimulation can improve nerve conduction of the corticospinal tract and lower limb motor function recovery in patients with chronic spinal cord injury.