Active clinical trials for "Central Cord Syndrome"

Background: To determine whether intermittent positive-pressure breathing (IPPB) improved lung compliance, work of breathing, and respiratory function in patients with recent high spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Two months of IPPB and two months of conventional treatment have to evaluated prospectively in random order in 14 patients with SCI. Noninvasive lung function tests and arterial blood gas measurements have to be obtained repeatedly. Repeated measurements of dynamic compliance and work of breathing have to be performed in 7 of the 14 patients.

Traumatic Central Cord Syndrome (TCCS) was until recent recognized as a separate clinical entity. The most characteristic feature is the disproportionate more motor impairment of the arms and especially the hands than the legs, bladder dysfunction and sensory. Recently, it has been shown that the distinction of TCCS with an incomplete cervical spinal cord lesion (ICSCL) is artificial. It is the most frequent incomplete traumatic spinal cord lesion. It accounts for up to 70 % of all incomplete cervical spinal cord lesions. The exact incidence is not known. Uncertainty about the treatment exists. A good recovery has been described after conservative treatment. Conservative treatment was usually considered when a fracture or dislocation of the spine were absent. It is often seen in hyperextension trauma in the elderly with degenerative spondylotic stenotic cervical spine. However, some reports suggest a better outcome after surgical decompression. Randomized trials have not been performed. To avoid discussion about possible confounding or effect modification related to the mechanism of trauma, this study will focus on ICSCL in patients without fracture or instability of the cervical spine on radiological examination. Also the problem of crossover from the conservative group to the surgical one due to the nature of spinal instability will be reduced. Goal of the study: To compare the efficacy of early decompressive surgery to improve functional outcome in patients with ICSCL without a fracture or instability of the cervical spine compared to those receiving conservative treatment. Definition of ICSCL in this study: ICSCL is an incomplete spinal cord lesion due to a cervical spine trauma. At CT scanning with reconstruction and at MRI signs are not seen that could indicate a fracture of the cervical spine or instability. An overt sequestrated herniated disc should not be present since this will always necessitate immediate surgery. Involvement of the cervical spinal cord should be established at physical examination (symptomatic arm or hand dysfunction is obligatory).

Change to Reflect What Was Done and reason Changes Were Made. The purpose of this study is to determine (1) if a specific breathing treatment (intermittent hypoxia) can promote changes in breathing function and (2) if pairing breathing treatments (hypoxia) with locomotor training can enhance the benefits of walking recovery observed with locomotor training alone (without breathing treatments).

Incomplete spinal cord injury often results in difficulty walking. Training on a treadmill with body weight support may improve walking ability after spinal cord injury. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of treadmill speed on spinal cord function and walking performance.

ABSTRACT/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND, SIGNIFICANCE & RATIONALE: Between 10-20% of the more than 6000 cases of spinal cord injury seen annually in the North America have the clinical pattern of traumatic central cord syndrome (TCCS). These patients are usually older, most likely have sustained a fall, and have incomplete spinal cord injury characterized by dysesthetic and weak upper extremities. CT scan of the cervical spine in patients with TCCS often shows disc/osteophytes complex superimposed on degenerative or congenital spinal stenosis and MRI reveals signal changes at one or multiple skeletal segments. A minority of these patients suffer from fracture/subluxations, however, this group of patients are younger and have been involved in a more dynamic trauma. Since 1951, when Schneider et al reported this syndrome, controversy has dominated its surgical management. The current "Guidelines for the Management of Acute Cervical Spine and Spinal Cord Injuries" recommendations are only at the level of options, since prospective outcome data are unavailable. HYPOTHESIS: in acute traumatic central cord syndrome, surgical decompression of the spinal cord within five days will result in more rapid motor recovery, than decompression 6 weeks following injury. To test this hypothesis, we will pursue the following specific aims: SPECIFIC AIM I: To compare American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Motor Scores after three months post injury in patients with central cord syndrome operated on within five days of injury to a similar group of patients operated on 6 weeks following injury. SPECIFIC AIM II: To compare functional outcome, health related quality of life and posttraumatic syrinx size in patients with traumatic central cord syndrome operated on within five days to a similar group of patients operated on 6 weeks following injury. DESIGN: Single center prospective randomized study. PROCEDURE: In a two-year period thirty patients with traumatic central cord syndrome and cord compression (15 patients in each group) will be randomized to undergo surgical decompression either within the first five days or at 6 weeks following spinal cord injury. ASIA motor, functional recovery and health related quality of life between the two groups will be compared at admission, discharge from rehab facility 3 months and 12 months after surgery.

Traumatic spinal cord injury is a common injury to the spine and can lead to a clinical syndrome called central cord syndrome (CCS). CCS is an incomplete spinal cord injury where one starts to lose more motor function in the upper rather than lower extremities. It affects a wide range of the population from the young to the old. However, the natural history of CCS is poorly understood. Research has shown that the injury resulting in CCS might be due to the pinching or compressing of the spinal cord. This creates damage to a part of the spinal cord and creates difficulties in the signal getting through. We believe that we can gain a better understanding of the natural history of incomplete spinal cord injury as well as the recovery process. It is possible to track many changes in the brain and motor function through a variety of methods. One can track the concentrations of different chemicals (metabolites) by using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), changes in brain activation by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and thread-like nerve fibers in the spine by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). In our study we will be detecting differences in brain metabolism and activation of different parts of the brain during specific movement and in the nerve fibers in the brain. We hypothesize that there will be decreased levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA, a putative marker of neuronal function) and decreased levels of glutamate (the primary excitatory neurotransmitter) in the motor cortex in patients with CCS when compared with controls. Over time, we hypothesize that the normalization of metabolite levels will correlate with the extent of neurologic recovery. We also hypothesize a reorganization of brain activation patterns with time such that patients will show increased volumes of activation in the motor cortex with recovery and that this will correlate with the extent of neurologic outcome. Over time, we predict that there will be normalization of the fibre track anatomy that will correlate with neurological recovery.