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Original Research | Open Access

Reviving consciousness: The impact of short-term spinal cord stimulation on patients with early-onset prolonged disorders of consciousness

Qiang Chena,1, Weilong Huanga,1, Jianhong Tangb, Guohui Yea, Hongliang Menga, Qing Jianga, Linying Gea, HuiChen Lia, Lin Liuc,d(), Qiuhua Jianga(), Dong Wanga()
Department of Neurosurgery, Ganzhou People’s Hospital, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
Laboratory Animal Engineering Research Center of Ganzhou, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases (Ministry of Education), Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China

1 These authors equally contributed to this work.

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Abstract

Background

Managing prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDoC) presents a significant clinical challenge despite numerous available therapies. While short-term spinal cord stimulation (st-SCS) for over 3 months has been recognized as an effective treatment for pDoC, its efficacy within the first 3 months remains unclear. This study explores st-SCS’s impact on patients with pDoC for less than 3 months.

Material and methods

We enrolled 141 pDoC patients within 3 months of onset; 104 received st-SCS, and 37 underwent conservative treatment. Consciousness levels were assessed using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) before treatment, 2 weeks after, and at 3-month follow-up.

Results

Comparing the data from the 3-month follow-up, we found that, the st-SCS group showed significantly greater improvement in CRS-R scores compared to the control group (p < 0.01), with more patients showing symptom amelioration (51/104 (49%)). Further analysis of the st-SCS treatment group showed significant improvement in CRS-R scores after 2 weeks (T1) and at the 3-month follow-up (T2) compared to baseline (T0). Both consciousness levels and specific CRS-R items improved notably post-treatment. Younger patients (<40 years) with traumatic brain injury and higher initial CRS-R scores were more likely to experience positive outcomes. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression identified etiology, time since injury, and initial CRS-R score as significant predictors of the 3-month outcome (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

st-SCS is an effective treatment for pDoC within 3 months of onset, particularly for younger patients and those with trauma-induced conditions, significantly improving consciousness and outcomes.

Keywords

Short-term spinal cord stimulationProlonged disorders of consciousnessTherapeutic windowNeuromodulationRelated factors

Electronic Supplementary Material

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Journal of Neurorestoratology
Volume 13 Issue 1,
February 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnrt.2024.100143
Cite this article:
Chen Q, Huang W, Tang J, et al. Reviving consciousness: The impact of short-term spinal cord stimulation on patients with early-onset prolonged disorders of consciousness. Journal of Neurorestoratology, 2025, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnrt.2024.100143
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