Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neurophysiology

Magnetic stimulation is a non - invasive tool for stimulation of neural tissue, including cerebral cortex and peripheral nerves. Repetitive magnetic stimulation produces long lasting effects which persist past the initial period of stimulation. Purpose Is to assess the effect of central versus peripheral repetitive magnetic stimulation on spasticity and motor power in patients with incomplete dorsal spinal cord injury. Methods our study was conducted on 31patients with incomplete dorsal spinal cord injury (SCI) divided into 2 groups: (A) 15 patients received repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the leg primary motor cortex, (B) 16 patients received repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) over the spinal cord according to the level of injury. Motor power score, spasticity grades, H / M ratio and nerve conduction studies of both tibial, peroneal and sural nerves were assessed prior to, immediately after the magnetic stimulation sessions and two weeks following sessions using medical research council (MRC) score, modified ashworth (MAS) scale and H reflex of both tibial nerves respectively. Significant improvement was found in motor power score at level of toes and ankle according to MRC score, spasticity grades according to MAS scale, grades of reflexes, amplitudes of both tibial, peroneal and sural nerves as well as H/M ratio of both tibial nerves between pre sessions and immediately after sessions in patients of group (A) in comparison with the improvement of the same values pre sessions with immediately after sessions in patients of group (B

Issued also as CD