This article reviews the literature on induced hypothermia in the treatment of traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries are a major cause of death and disability worldwide, Croatia included. The initial lesion usually progresses due to ischaemia and inflammation in the early days following the traumatic event. Critical care of patients is focused on the prevention of secondary neurological injury. Hypothermia has become a standard method of neuroprotection after cardiac arrest and in neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, while it's effect on the outcome of traumatic brain injury is currently under clinical investigation. Present meta-analyses of clinical trials are critically appraised: there is reason to believe in the benefits of hypothermia; however, a substantial number of results come from studies of small size and lower methodological quality. Hypothermia has been shown to reduce intracranial pressure; however, there is no clear evidence of reduced mortality or improved neurological outcome among hypothermic patients. The challenge remains to find the optimal combination of target temperature, duration of hypothermia and rate of rewarming. Present experience suggests that mildly to moderately reduced temperatures (32-35°C), longer duration of the procedure and slow rewarming, preferably titrated to maintain physiologic values of intracranial pressure, likely bring most benefit. Active temperature control methods are the best way to achieve this 'dose-adjustment' of hypothermia. The article lists various active and passive cooling methods, both for systemic cooling and selective head cooling. Possible complications of hypothermia include pneumonia and other infections, coagulation disorders, and hypovolemia.