Active clinical trials for "Spinal Cord Injuries"

The purpose of the study is to detect the presence of autoantibodies and autoantigens in cerebrospinal fluid early (<48 hours) following spinal cord trauma. The study also aims to define the central or peripheral origin of autoantibodies by looking for their simultaneous presence at the blood level and to evaluate the prognostic value of the presence of autoantibodies within the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as on the initial clinical severity than on the recovery potential.

--Participation open to all Canadian residents-- The purpose of this study is to address how well children with incomplete spinal cord injuries of greater than 12 months duration who remain non-functional ambulators improve through body weight assisted treadmill training (BWATT).

This is an expanded access program (EAP) for eligible participants. This program is designed to provide access to Elezanumab prior to approval by the local regulatory agency. Availability will depend on territory eligibility. A medical doctor must decide whether the potential benefit outweighs the risk of receiving an investigational therapy based on the individual patient's medical history and program eligibility criteria.

The immediate period after spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the only opportunities that clinicians and care-givers have to make a real difference to patient outcomes. One of the main aims during this period is to preserve blood flow and oxygen delivery to the spinal cord to prevent any further damage from occurring after the injury. The heart acts as the major pump for blood to be pumped to the spinal cord and the body. It has been shown in small animal models and in humans with long-standing SCI that the ability of the heart to pump blood after injury is compromised, which may in turn reduce the amount of blood and oxygen delivered to the injured cord. It is unclear how quickly these changes occur in the heart following SCI and how best to manage heart function such that blood flow and oxygen delivery can be optimized. In the present study, the investigators will examine how the heart functions immediately after SCI. The findings from this study are expected to provide new information that could help clinicians improve the management of people who have just suffered a SCI.

A traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) often causes an unprecedented change in functioning by altering bodily structure and function. More specifically, the direct consequences of TSCI to the motor, sensory and autonomic nervous system not only challenge an individual's independency but also the ability to make a positive adjustment to life after injury. In line with this, TSCI survivors often experience threats to their livelihood and becoming integrated members of society. Health systems therefore need to be ready to respond to the myriad of challenges following a TSCI by providing access to specialized and comprehensive services. The provision of specialized care in a time-sensitive manner has shown to be crucial for survival and recovery of functioning after a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). However, little is known about the provision of TSCI care in different international contexts; information which is required for strengthening policy and practice.

Do different arm placements (including arms on armrests/devices, arms on knees, arms free, and arm crossed over chest) influence outcomes of sit-to-stand test (STST) in ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI)? What are the factors associated with ability to perform STST in ambulatory individuals with SCI? Are the single-time sit-to-stand test (STSST) and five-time sit-to-stand test (FTSST) reliable, valid and responsive to determine functional alteration in ambulatory individuals with SCI?

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibility to use electromyography in acute phase after a traumatic spinal cord injury to measure quantitatively and objectively the bulbocavernosus reflex. This study also aims to determine if there is a relationship between the bulbocavernosus reflex and neuro-functional recovery 3 months after a traumatic spinal cord injury. To do so, 20 patients admitted for acute traumatic spinal cord injury will be recruited prospectively. Within 72 hours post-trauma, the bulbocavernous reflex of all participants will be assessed according to the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) and by electromyography. Neurological improvement during the rehabilitation process and functional status at 3 months following the traumatic spinal cord injury will also be assessed.

People with SCI are at higher risk of obesity and chronic diseases, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, than the general population. Researchers currently lack data on factors that influence weight gain among people with SCI. During this one-year observational study, study staff will enroll 60 individuals with SCI while they are inpatients at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation (BSWIR). Data will be collected at 3 time periods (before discharge and 6 and 12 months after discharge) in order to better understand factors that affect weight gain over the first 12 months following discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, such as nutritional intake, environmental access, psychosocial factors, energy requirements and risk factors for metabolic syndrome. These data will be used to inform future interventions for people with SCI.

The study is examining differences in central arterial stiffness, orthostatic changes in blood pressure, norepinephrine, and plasma renin in individuals with spinal cord injury compared with age-matched uninjured controls.

Pressure injuries are a major problem in patients with no or limited mobility and sensation such as paraplegics. Changes in skin physiology like changes in skin perfusion, oxygenation and humidity may explain and help to detect pressure injury development earlier. Thus, these parameters may be used for continuous monitoring of skin health. So far, there is no measuring technology available which would allow to measure continuously and quantitatively the physiological parameters, which are essential in the development of pressure injuries, over a long period of time in the clinical setting. The goal of this pilot study is to test whether this wearable technology can be used for measurements of skin parameter and whether temperature, pressure, humidity, perfusion, and oxygenation can be measured safely and accurately. 10 healthy individuals and 10 individuals with spinal cord will be enrolled for measurements with this newly developed device over the ischium for 30 minutes. The reproducibility of the measurements will be investigated.