SynthesisPloS one2025
Safety of median nerve electrical stimulation in disorders of consciousness: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Efficacy and safety of neuromodulation and multimodal therapies for traumatic brain injury-induced disorders of consciousness: an updated umbrella review.Frontiers in neurologyPooled it
- Efficacy of non-pharmacological treatments for prolonged disorders of consciousness: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in neurologyPooled it
- Promoting Consciousness Recovery in Patients with Acquired Brain Injury Through Multimodal Sensory Stimulation: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Median Nerve and Auricular Stimulation.Neurocritical care · 2026Trial
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMedian nerve electrical stimulation (MNS) is a noninvasive treatment technique that can improve the brain functional activity of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) and promote their awakening. However, there is no research on whether MNS increases the incidence and severity of DoC complications. In this study, we evaluated the safety of MNS for the treatment of DoC.
methodsWe searched relevant studies in PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science (Medline), and Chinese databases, including CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Databases. For dichotomous outcomes, the pooled risk ratio (RR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was used as the effect estimate. We applied a fixed-effects or random-effects model to test the robustness of the forecast. A funnel plot was used to test for publication bias. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I². Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis were also performed. The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. This study protocol has been registered in PROSPERO.
resultsThe results of the meta-analysis showed that MNS may not increase the incidence of complications and adverse events such as seizures, increased sympathetic activity, arrhythmia, nausea and vomiting, lethargy, pulmonary infection, intracranial hemorrhage or hematoma, and gastrointestinal bleeding in DoC patients. However, the methodological quality of most studies was poor, and accurate conclusions could not be drawn.
conclusionMNS does not increase the incidence of DoC complications and adverse events, however, the quality of evidence for it's safety is low and high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to further confirm this conclusion.
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Registered trials
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.