Introduction:

cranioencephalic trauma is defined as any injury that causes deterioration or alteration of neurological function due to an external force.

Objective: to describe the potential of progesterone in the treatment of craniocerebral trauma.

Methods:

a review of the literature on the use of progesterone in the treatment of cranioencephalic trauma was carried out in the Scopus, PubMed/MedLine and SciELO databases. A search formula using a combination of terms was used to search for information.

Results:

progesterone is synthesized in the adrenal glands, placenta and gonads; it can also be synthesized by glial cells and neurons. It has the ability to be converted locally into neuroactive metabolites. By administering progesterone, neuronal death is prevented and the influx of inflammatory cells, neutrophils and biochemical cascades is reduced. One of the capacities of progesterone in the nervous system is to prevent the loss of myelin in the axons of neurons, but also to promote the regeneration of those that have already lost myelin due to primary lesions.

Conclusions:

cranioencephalic trauma is an affection of the brain parenchyma, caused by an external force. Its management is under discussion, despite the issuance of protocols by emergency medical organizations. Progesterone constitutes a treatment with potential due to its properties and effects on the nervous system and its cellular components; however, information continues to be scarce and disintegrated.

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