Restoration of Standing and Walking With ISMS in Humans (ISMS)
Spinal Cord Injury, Paralysis
About this trial
This is an interventional basic science trial for Spinal Cord Injury focused on measuring Thoracic spinal cord injury, Paralysis, ASIA A, Device
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18-50 years old; male or female (no preference).
Complete paraplegia (ASIA A classification) as a result of a spinal cord injury between the levels of T2-8.
i. No motor or sensory function below the level of injury as determined by a physician.
ii. No voluntary bladder function - defined as the inability to sense bladder fullness or voluntary contraction of the bladder (meets criteria for no sacral sparing).
iii. Stable paraplegia.
- Patients with involuntary spasms are allowed. However, spasticity must be less than Ashworth 4 or spasm rating of 3 or less.
- History of spinal cord injury greater than 1 year.
- Intent to undergo spine surgery involving exposure of at least T9-T12 vertebral lamina.
- MRI studies performed within the past year showing presence of spinal cord between T8-L1 with reasonable normal anatomical shape. No chronic infections.
- Ability to travel to Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Acute medical conditions that are under active treatment. Examples include active urinary tract infection, respiratory illness, decubital ulcers, fractures, upper extremity injury, back pain.
- Pregnancy.
- Presence of a neurostimulator, bladder stimulator, cardiac stimulator or other electrical stimulator device implant.
- Inability to transfer from wheel chair to chair or bed.
- Inability to tolerate 1 hour of physical activity such as gait training in a harness.
- Severe depression requiring active medical treatment or counseling.
- Cognitive impairment that places the study volunteer under the 6th grade reading level.
- Inability to provide consent.
- Intradural or extradural masses compressing or displacing the spinal cord between T8-L1 region.
- Significant change in motor or sensory function over the previous year.
- History of spinal cord injury less than 1 year.
- Previous laminectomy and intradural spinal cord procedure involving the region of T9-T12.
- Patients with involuntary spasms with rigidity more than Ashworth 4 or spasm rating of 3 or more.
Sites / Locations
- Vanderbilt University
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
IntraSpinal Micro-Stimulation
IntraSpinal Micro-Stimulation will be performed using a maximum of 16 electrodes inserted along each side of spinal cord that correlate with movements created across all 3 joints (hips, knees, and ankles)