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251 active trials for Spinal Cord Injuries

Non-invasive Nerve Stimulation for Inhibition of Bladder Incontinence in Spinal Cord Injured Subjects.

Investigators will test S2-S4 dermatome stimulation with spinal cord injury (SCI) individuals using intermittent catheterization to estimate the clinical impact on bladder capacity and continence. For individuals with SCI using intermittent catheterization, investigators hypothesize that dermatome stimulation will decrease bladder spasm frequency and intensity, and reduce bladder incontinence chronically. The goal of this study is to provide objective evidence for the assertion that dermatome stimulation chronically decreases bladder activity and therefore the unwanted side effects of neurogenic bladder. This project will improve the understanding of the neurophysiology of afferent-mediated neural pathways that affect bladder function, and translate recent advances discovered in animal and human studies into clinical research and treatment. The ability to void safely and effectively by electrical stimulation without cutting sacral nerves or the external urethral sphincter would be a major advance. A socially acceptable, predictable and reliable device for reducing incontinence would be widely used and improve quality of life.

Start: October 2016

Long Duration Activity and Metabolic Control After Spinal Cord Injury

Skeletal muscle is the largest endocrine organ in the body, playing an indispensable role in glucose homeostasis. Spinal cord injury (SCI) prevents skeletal muscle from carrying out this important function. Dysregulation of glucose metabolism precipitates high rates of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and other secondary health conditions (SHCs) of SCI. These SHCs exert a negative influence on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). New discoveries support that a low level of activity throughout the day offers a more effective metabolic stimulus than brief, episodic exercise bouts. The proposed study will translate this emerging concept to the population of individuals with SCI by using low-force, long-duration electrical muscle stimulation to subsidize daily activity levels. Recently, we demonstrated that this type of stimulation up-regulates key genes that foster an oxidative, insulin-sensitive phenotype in paralyzed muscle. We will now test whether this type of activity can improve glucose homeostasis and metabolic function in patients with chronic paralysis. We hypothesize that improvements in metabolic function will be accompanied by a reduction in SHCs and a concomitant improvement in self-reported HRQOL. The long-term goal of this research is to develop a rehabilitation strategy to protect the musculoskeletal health, metabolic function, and health-related quality of life of people living with complete SCI.

Start: August 2015

Musculoskeletal Plasticity After Spinal Cord Injury

Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, pressure ulcers, and cardiovascular disease at far greater rates than the general population. A rehabilitation method to prevent or reverse the systemic metabolic consequences of SCI is a pressing need. The purpose of this study is to determine the dose of muscle activity that can enhance an oxidative muscle phenotype and improve clinical markers of metabolic health and bone turnover in patients with SCI. The long-term goal of this research is to develop exercise-based interventions to prevent secondary health conditions such as diabetes and to ultimately protect health-related quality of life (QOL). Specific Aim 1: To compare changes in skeletal muscle gene regulation in individuals who receive high frequency (HF) active-resisted stance and low frequency (LF) active-resisted stance for 3 years. Hypothesis 1: The expression of genes regulating skeletal muscle metabolism will support that HF and LF both instigate a shift toward an oxidative muscle phenotype. A novel finding will be that LF is a powerful regulator of oxidative pathways in skeletal muscle. Specific Aim 2: To compare changes in systemic markers of metabolic health and bone turnover in individuals with SCI who receive HF or LF for 3 years. Hypothesis 2: HF and LF will both reduce glucose/insulin levels and HOMA (homeostasis model assessment) score. However, only HF will demonstrate an effect on bone turnover (higher serum levels of osteocalcin). Secondary Aim: To measure subject-reported QOL using the EQ-5D survey metric. Hypothesis 3: HF and LF subjects will show a trend toward improved self-reported QOL after 3 years. There will be an association between metabolic improvement and improved perception of QOL. These observations will support that this intervention has strong feasibility for future clinical translation.

Start: May 2015

Sarcopenic Obesity in Neurodisabilities

To describe the frequency and thresholds for sarcopenic obesity in neurodisabled persons and the fat and lean mass distribution based on various neurodisabilities

Start: May 2019

Identifying Body Awareness-related Brain Network Changes During Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation for Reduced Neuropathic Pain in People With Spinal Cord Injury

Many adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) suffer from long-term debilitating neuropathic pain. Available treatments, including opioids, are ineffective at eliminating this pain. Based on preliminary data from Dr Morse and from Dr Van de Winckel, we have demonstrated that brain areas that are important for body awareness and pain perception (parietal operculum, insula) have weaker brain connectivity in adults with spinal cord injury than in able-bodied healthy adults and that Cognitive Multisensory Rehabilitation (CMR) can restore these networks. This study uses a cross-over study for adults with SCI and a comparison of baseline outcomes in adults with SCI vs able-bodied healthy adults to address two aims: AIM 1: Determine baseline differences in resting-state and task-based fMRI activation and connectivity in adults with SCI compared to able-bodied healthy controls. AIM 2: Identify changes in brain activation and connectivity, as well as behavioral outcomes in pain and body awareness in adults with SCI after CMR versus standard of care.

Start: September 2020

Shared Responsibility Between General Practitioners and Highly Specialized Hospitals in Spinal Cord Injury

It is an interventional study that aims to assess a new primary care model of collaboration between specialized centers and primary care physicians in Switzerland, in order to reduce morbidity and improve patients' and providers' experience with delivery of follow-up care in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury as compared to current best practice.

Start: February 2019

Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options

This Stage II randomized, controlled, longitudinal trial seeks to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and effects of a driving decision aid use among geriatric patients and providers. This multi-site trial will (1) test the driving decision aid (DDA) in improving decision making and quality (knowledge, decision conflict, values concordance and behavior intent); and (2) determine its effects on specific subpopulations of older drivers (stratified for cognitive function, decisional capacity, and attitudinally readiness for a mobility transition). The overarching hypotheses are that the DDA will help older adults make high-quality decisions, which will mitigate the negative psychosocial impacts of driving reduction, and that optimal DDA use will target certain populations and settings.

Start: December 2019

Effects of the SmartDrive on Mobility, Activity and Shoulder Pain Among People With SCI Using Manual Wheelchairs

This is a prospective study of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI). The users will be their own controls. The primary purpose of the study is to evaluate the ability of the power assist device SmartDrive to increase the ability to be mobile.

Start: June 2019

Immersive Virtual Reality for Chronic Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury: A Feasibility Trial

The aim of this study is to provide critical information about the efficacy of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) to decrease the experience of neuropathic pain in the upper and lower extremities of people with a spinal cord injury.

Start: July 2019

Protocol for Rapid Onset of Mobilization in Patients With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

PROMPT-SCI (Protocol for Rapid Onset of Mobilization in Patients with Traumatic SCI) is a single-site single-arm proof-of-concept trial. Forty-five patients aged 18 years or older who have sustained a severe traumatic SCI (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade A, B or C) from C0 to L1 and undergoing spinal surgery within 48 hours of the injury will be included. Participants will receive daily 30-minute sessions of in-bed leg cycling for 14 consecutive days, initiated within 48 hours after spinal surgery. The feasibility outcomes consist of the 1) absence of serious adverse events associated with cycling sessions, 2) completion of at least 1 full session within 48 hours after spinal surgery for at least 90% of participants, and 3) completion of at least 11 sessions for at least 80% of participants. Patient outcomes 6 weeks and 6 months after injury will be measured from neurofunctional assessments, quality of life questionnaires and inpatient length of stay. Feasibility and patient outcomes will be analysed with descriptive statistics. Patient outcomes will also be compared to a matched historical cohort not receiving in-bed cycling.

Start: February 2021

SG Healthcare and Assistive Robotics Programme (SHARP) - Proof of Concept Study

Robots are commonly used in many settings to help with transportation needs, reduce human injuries, and assisting clinicians during surgeries. These applications could provide direct benefits to patients in the clinical rehabilitation field. In this study, the feasibility of 2 CARE robot prototypes in facilitating dependent transfers and assisting patient mobility in their daily living activities will be studied.

Start: December 2020

Exoskeleton-Assisted Walking ExoAtlet II

Based on prior exoskeleton research, it was determined that 40 participants of variable height, weight and injury level would provide a significant measure of the safety and feasibility of using the ExoAtlet II in individuals with SCI for standing and walking rehabilitation therapy. Craig Hospital will be responsible for enrolling up to 30 individuals during the study duration.The inclusion criteria will be utilized to identify appropriate subjects for this study.

Start: June 2021

Prevention of Bladder Dysfunction in Acute Spinal Cord Injury

This study is a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial to explore the effect of early treatment with Onabotulinumtoxin A in patients with acute complete motor spinal cord injury (SCI) on the development of neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO). A total of 20 patients will be randomized to intra-detrusor injection of 300 U Onabotulinumtoxin A in 30 ml NaCl 0.9 % or placebo with 30 ml NaCl 0.9 %. Bladder biopsies will be obtained in the same procedure. The treatment will be repeated after three months. All included patients will be evaluated with urodynamic examinations. Follow-up is 12 months after the first treatment. The primary endpoint of the study is development of NDO.

Start: September 2012

Clinical Study of an Autologous Stem Cell Product in Patients With a (Sub)Acute Spinal Cord Injury

This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and delayed-start phase II/III clinical study.

Start: June 2021

CLINICAL EFFECT OF BOTULINUM TOXIN TYPE A IN TREATMENT OF SPASTICITY

Spasticity has been defined as a disorder of the sensorimotor system characterized by a velocity-dependent increase in tonic stretch reflexes (muscle tone) with exaggerated tendon jerks, resulting from hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex. The treatment goal of spasticity is Medical treatment generally combines physiotherapy with medications, depending on spasticity distribution. Systemic treatments such as oral or intrathecal baclofen are generally considered in case of generalized spasticity, whereas local treatments are considered in case of focal spasticity. Local treatments such as Botulinum Toxin type A, phenol, and alcohol present several advantages, allowing to treat of selected muscles without the risk of sedation. As stated above, they are indicated for focal spasticity but might be helpful even in the presence of generalized spasticity with identified focal goals (Bethoux et al., 2015). In particular, Botulinum Toxin type A (BoNT-A) is considered the gold standard treatment for focal spasticity, showing a level A evidence for spasticity reduction in upper- and lower-limb spasticity (Simpson et al., 2016). However, current evidence is mainly focused on post-stroke spasticity (Franceschini et al., 2014), whereas it is still limited in spasticity as a consequence of other aetiologies, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or multiple sclerosis (MS). Interestingly, spasticity is a major concern for the rehabilitation of these patients. The aim of this observational study is the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of BoNT-A in spasticity reduction in patients affected by neurological conditions different from post-stroke spasticity, such as SCI, TBI, and MS.

Start: March 2019

Closed-loop Deep Brain Stimulation to Treat Refractory Neuropathic Pain

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) holds promise as a new option for patients suffering from treatment-resistant chronic pain, but current technology is unable to reliably achieve long-term pain symptom relief. A "one-size-fits-all" approach of continuous, 24/7 brain stimulation has helped patients with some movement disorders, but the key to reducing pain may be the activation of stimulation only when needed, as this may help keep the brain from adapting to stimulation effects. By expanding the technological capabilities of an investigative brain stimulation device, the investigators will enable the delivery of stimulation only when pain signals in the brain are high, and then test whether this more personalized stimulation leads to reliable symptom relief for chronic pain patients over extended periods of time.

Start: October 2017

EEG Predictors of Neuropathic Pain in SCI

Spinal cord injury (SCI), induced by damage to the spinal cord, can cause life-altering levels of disability including the development of chronic pain. Central Neuropathic Pain (CNP) typically develops within months after injury in 40-50% of SCI patients, affecting everyday activity, sleep and mood. There is no cure for CNP, it can be very difficult to treat and is often refractory to any pharmacological treatments. In a previous study (study no. 14/WS/1029) the principle investigators showed that the likelihood of CNP developing can be predicted by defining characteristics of brain waves that are related to pain. We will use electroencephalograph (EEG) to measure brain activity in people early after SCI, before they develop pain, knowing that about half will develop pain within a year. We aim to recruit 80 participants, aged 18-80; 40 with subacute spinal injury (level C3-T12) and no symptoms of CNP; 20 with symptoms of CNP and 20 able-bodied participants. Completeness of injury is irrelevant. Patients will be recruited by clinical consultants within national spinal units in Glasgow and Stoke Mandeville. Patients will undergo two EEG recording sessions in which they will imagine movements while we record EEG. Sessions will also involve basic sensory testing and completion of questionnaires. Able-bodied participants will be recruited by the Philosophy Doctor (PhD) candidate at the University of Glasgow and undergo only one EEG session (identical to SCI patients). The primary aim of this study is to use early EEG markers of CNP to optimise and validate an existing computer program based on machine learning to enable more accurate prediction of pain in newly injured patients with the hope of aiding future treatments. Secondary aims include characterising EEG features which might describe different phases in patients' development of CNP and exploring possible differences between pain at/below the level of SCI based on EEG markers.

Start: January 2021

Telehealth Pain Self-Management for Employed Adults

The E-TIPS trial will evaluate an evidence-based, telehealth pain self-management intervention compared to standard care (a waitlist) for chronic pain in adults with physical disabilities who are employed. Participants from anywhere in the US will be randomized to either E-TIPS, a cognitive-behavioral pain self-management intervention delivered by telephone, or a waitlist control. Outcomes, including pain interference, will be assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow up.

Start: March 2020

Injured Spinal Cord Pressure Evaluation

About a thousand people a year in the United Kingdom survive a spinal cord injury but are left paralysed or wheelchair-bound. The annual cost of care for spinal cord injury victims is more than half a billion pounds. We propose that after spinal cord injury, cord pressure at the injury site rises, damaging the spinal cord further by secondary ischaemia. The value of measuring and reducing cord pressure after spinal cord injury is unknown. The injured spinal cord is compressed by bone malalignment and cord swelling. Current management involves realigning and fixing the bony fragments using metal screws, rods and plates. We hypothesise that: 1. Bony realignment alone does not adequately decompress the swollen cord, which remains compressed against the surrounding dura. 2. That duraplasty reduces intra spinal pressure more effectively than bone realignment alone. 3. Localised hypothermia reduces intra spinal pressure and improves metabolism. We will develop a novel method to measure cord pressure and metabolism at the injury site after spinal cord injury and determine whether the cord pressure rises, for how long, and with what impact on spinal cord metabolism. This is a pilot study to find out whether spinal cord pressure and metabolism can be measured after spinal cord injury and whether they are effected by treatment choices. We will examine if spinal cord perfusion pressure correlates with clinical outcomes.

Start: September 2010

Exoskeletal-Assisted Walking in SCI Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation

The purpose of this research study is to test the effect of early exoskeletal-assisted walking (EAW) training (combined into regular acute inpatient rehabilitation (AIR)) on improving functional recovery and reducing pain and inflammation. Powered exoskeletons are a technology that offer standing and walking for certain persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) who meet the using indication of the device and have been used in the chronic SCI population with positive benefits in ability to move, daily function (such as bathing and dressing), body composition (such as lean and fat tissue mass), and quality of life (QOL). Despite the potential for EAW to promote functional recovery and reduce secondary medical complications (such as urinary tract infections and pain), no reports exist on the use of exoskeletons in AIR.

Start: September 2019