Abstract
Applying therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for the purposes of neuroprotection, originally termed “hibernation,” started nearly 100 years ago. As advances in the medical and surgical management of patients with neurotrauma has increased survivability and minimized primary damage, significant research has been directed at identifying neuroprotective mechanisms that might mitigate the secondary damage which leads to neurological worsening and impedes recovery. As therapeutic hypothermia cooling systems have improved to the point where it is practical and safe for general application, interest in providing such treatment in conditions such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and cardiac arrest has increased. This manuscript will review the mechanisms by which therapeutic hypothermia mitigates secondary neurological injury, the clinical scenarios where therapeutic hypothermia is being applied via Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Stroke (CVA), and review published studies utilizing therapeutic hypothermia for central nervous system neuroprotection in translational studies.