rTMS for Postoperative Brain Tumor Patients

Summary

When doctors perform surgery to remove brain tumors, the goal is to take out as much of the tumor as possible while keeping the patient's brain functions intact. However, sometimes patients have trouble with movements like walking or using their hands after surgery. One reason for this is unintentional damage to important areas of the brain during the operation. A technique called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) might help patients recover these lost abilities faster. The investigators are conducting a study to see if TMS can help patients recover their movement abilities after brain tumor surgery. TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific parts of the brain. In this study, the investigators will treat six patients with TMS once per day for three days in a row. Three patients with recent movement difficulties one to two weeks after surgery will be recruited for this study; they will also receive physical therapy. An additional three patients with persisting movement difficulties up to three years after tumor surgery will also be recruited for this study, regardless of whether or not they receive physical therapy. The investigators will use two standard tests to see how well patients can move before and after the TMS treatment. These tests will help the investigators understand if TMS is making a difference in their recovery.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients aged 22-65 years old who have undergone surgical resection for a brain tumor.
2. Patients undergoing any form of prior therapy, other than previous TMS therapy, will be considered.
3. Patients who present with sustained postoperative motor deficits at 1-2 weeks postoperatively as defined by the presence of British Medical Research Council (MRC) motor scores of 3/5 or less, or a sustained decrement by one point on the MRC score in the affected extremity.
4. Patients who present within three years of surgery with chronic, persistent motor-functional deficits will be included to demonstrate generalizability of safety and efficacy in neurosurgery patients with chronic deficits.
5. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with any clinical history of seizures.
2. Patients with implanted devices (e.g., pacemakers, implanted stimulators, intracranial electrodes, cochlear implants).
3. Patients who have undergone a brain biopsy alone without resection.
4. Patients with postoperative cognitive deficits as defined by a Mini Mental State Examination score \<26.
5. History of bipolar disorder.
6. Pregnant or breast-feeding individuals.
7. Active suicidal ideation or plan as assessed by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.
8. History of moderate to severe heart disease.
9. History of other neurological conditions defined by structural cerebral damage (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis, other neurodegenerative diseases, meningoencephalitis)

Conditions5

Locations1 site

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