Národní knihovna ČR Praha CZ 49 C 96 adl. 13, Národní knihovna ČR Praha CZ 65 E 4831 adl. 5 def., Královská kanonie premonstrátů na Strahově - Strahovská knihovna Praha cz BG IV 46 adl. 10, and BCBT41838
Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is a modified form of highfrequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with promising effect in chronic pain. The aim of our doubleblind, sham-controlled, parallel-group, randomized study was to assess an efficacy of intermittent TBS (iTBS) in the treatment of patients with chronic orofacial pain. Nineteen patients (twelve females) with chronic orofacial pain were prospectively included and randomly assigned to single session of an active (iTBS) or sham (intermediate TBS; imTBS) stimulation delivered to the primary motor cortex (M1) contralateral to painful side. The primary outcome was pain relief assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) after stimulation and at the end of two-week followup. The secondary outcomes were changes in the quantitative sensory testing (QST). QST set the threshold for thermal and tactile (touch) sensation in the affected facial area. Intermittent TBS, compared with the sham, showed significant improvement in VAS after stimulation, but not at the end of two-week followup. Regarding the secondary outcomes (QST), we failed to find any significant difference between iTBS and sham. Our findings demonstrate that iTBS of M1 transiently provides transient and modest subjective pain relief in chronic orofacial pain.