Median nerve electrical stimulation for restoring consciousness in patients with traumatic brain injury: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the prevalent critical illnesses encountered in clinical practice, often resulting in a spectrum of consciousness disorders among survivors. Prolonged states of impaired consciousness can significantly elevate the susceptibility to complications such as urinary tract infections and pulmonary issues, consequently leading to a compromised prognosis and substantially impacting the quality of life for affected individuals. Clinical studies have reported that median nerve electrical stimulation (MNES) may have a therapeutic effect in the treatment of disorders of consciousness (DOC). We plan to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MNES in the management of DOC subsequent to TBI.

Methods and analysis: We will conduct a comprehensive literature search in the following electronic databases: Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database and Chinese Scientific Journal Database. The search will be performed from the inception of the databases until 30 September 2024. Furthermore, we will search for relevant ongoing trials in the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov and China Clinical Trial Registry. Grey literature will also be sourced from reputable sources like GreyNet International, Open Grey and Google Scholar. We will include eligible randomised controlled trials. The primary outcome of interest will be the assessment of consciousness disorder severity. To ensure rigour and consistency, two independent reviewers will screen the studies for inclusion, extract relevant data and assess the risk of bias. Any discrepancies will be resolved through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer. The quality of evidence will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Data synthesis and meta-analysis will be conducted using STATA 15.1 software.

Ethics and dissemination: This systematic review and meta-analysis do not involve the collection or use of any individual patient data, thereby obviating the necessity for ethical review. The research findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Prospero registration number: CRD42024533359.