Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40469336›Full record

ReviewSurgical neurology international2025

Use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in traumatic brain injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abdulsalam Mohammed Aleid, Mohmmed Saud AlShammri, Saud Nayef Aldanyowi, Awn Abdulmohsen Alessa, Abdulmonem Ali Alhussain, Abbas Al Mutair

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Surgical neurology international, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Abdulsalam Mohammed AleidDepartment of Surgery, Medical College, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Mohmmed Saud AlShammriCollege of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Saud Nayef AldanyowiDepartment of Surgery, Medical College, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Awn Abdulmohsen AlessaDepartment of Neurosurgery, King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulmonem Ali AlhussainDepartment of Neurosurgery, King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.
Abbas Al MutairResearch Center, Almoosa Specialist Hospital, Almoosa College of Health Sciences, Al Mubarraz, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury resulting from external force exerted directly or indirectly on the skull. This is presently the major cause of mortality and disability among youth globally. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was proposed for the treatment of various neurological disorders such as TBI. We conducted the current systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy of rTMS in TBI patients. Methods: We conducted our database searching on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception till August 2024 to look for articles that fulfil our aim. The search strategy was based on two main keywords: "Transcranial magnetic stimulation" AND "Traumatic brain injury." We conducted the pooled analysis of continuous variables using standardized mean difference (SMD) due to difference in measurement scales. Results: Seven randomized controlled trials were included. A statistically significant improvement in cognitive function was observed after rTMS compared to control group with SMD of 0.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25, 1.14, Conclusion: The use of rTMS is associated with improved cognitive functions and reduction in pain. No effect was observed regarding depression but future studies are still warranted in this important clinical field.

Indexed as

CognitionDepressionPainRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationTraumatic brain injury

Identifiers

PMID40469336
PMCPMC12134812

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-SA
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.