Active clinical trials for "Spinal Cord Injuries"

The purpose of this study is to determine the usefulness of a drug, denosumab, to prevent the loss of bone in participants legs due to SCI. This drug is FDA approved to treat osteoporosis in women after menopause who have an increased risk for fractures, to treat women receiving certain treatments for breast cancer who have an increased risk of fractures, and to treat bone loss in men receiving certain treatments for prostate cancer who have increased risk for fractures. This drug is considered experimental for the purpose of this study. Study participation will last for approximately 12 months (6 study visits total), visits will range from1-4.5 hours depending on the number of tests that need to be completed. The study is a double-blinded placebo trail in which the participant will be randomly assigned to on of two groups, Denosumab injections or placebo - inactive salt solution injections.

Hypothesis of the Study: Based on the presented results, the investigator hypothesises that HBO preserves neurons that are not irreversibly damaged (i.e. severed) during initial trauma, thus enabling regain of their function. The investigator predicts that HBO treatment protects and enhances motor function in initially paralysed regions, including improvement in function of the extremities as well as recovery of urinary bladder control and bowel function. Outline of the Proposed Study: Within a prospective "proof of principle" trial, a total of 100 patients will be included. Fifty patients will be recruited at the Division of Thoracic and Hyperbaric Surgery, Medical University of Graz. In parallel, 50 control patients will be included at the Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Paracelsus University Salzburg, Salzburger Landeskliniken (SALK), Austria. Thereby, all patients that are admitted at the Medical University of Graz can be treated and the enrolment of 50 patients into the treatment group can be implemented within the outlined time frame. The active recruitment period is planned for three years. Both HBO treated and control patients will undergo the same surgical and nonsurgical procedures. HBO treatment will be started within 24 hours after the injury. A total of 21 consecutive daily sessions will be applied, followed by routine rehabilitation programmes. By matching control and HBO-treated patients, an evaluation of the treatment effect of HBO is possible. The outcome will be evaluated by implementing the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)-scores and magnet resonance (MR) imaging. Additionally, inflammatory and regenerative blood markers will be analysed (neuroendocrine markers/neuro-transmitters: S100beta, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Growth Factor [BDNF], Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein [GFAP], Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), norepinephrine; array of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines).

Stimulation of the spinal cord may induce the growth and reorganization of neural pathways leading to the re-animation of paralyzed limbs. Growing evidence indicates that electrical spinal cord stimulation improves motor functions immediately via modulating the excitability of spinal circuitry in patients with spinal cord injury. Recently, a novel, non-invasive, well-tolerated and painless transcutaneous electrical stimulation strategy was demonstrated to be effective for improving lower limb motor function in healthy individuals and in patients with spinal cord injury. The investigators hypothesize that transcutaneous cervical electrical stimulation can enhance conscious motor control and functions of hand and arm via neuromodulation of spinal network. This study is a prospective efficacy trial of transcutaneous cervical electrical stimulation for improving upper limb function in patients with traumatic or degenerative cervical spinal cord injury. Transcutaneous electrical spinal stimulation device is not regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treatment of spinal cord injury. The interventions include either transcutaneous cervical spinal electrical stimulation combined with physical therapy or physical therapy only. The order of the interventions will be randomized for each subject in a delayed cross-over design. Total duration of the study is 6 months, including 4 weeks baseline measurements, 8 weeks intervention and 12 weeks follow-up. Both immediate and lasting improvements in hand motor and sensory function via transcutaneous cervical spinal stimulation will be evaluated.

The purpose of this study is to determine how the nervous system controlling leg muscles is altered following spinal cord injury and how they may be affected by brief periods of low oxygen inhalation over time. The investigators hypothesize: Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) exposure will increase maximum voluntary leg strength in persons with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) AIH exposure will increase multijoint reflex excitability of leg muscles in persons with incomplete cervical SCI AIH exposure will increase walking performance in persons with incomplete cervical SCI

The aim of the study is to investigate whether there is an effect of electrical stimulation on the denervated gluteus muscle (buttocks) in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury. The expected outcome is an increase in muscle volume and a better pressure distribution during sitting. The stimulation of the gluteus muscle is performed daily for 35 minutes over a period of six months. The muscle volume and the pressure distribution are measured before stimulation, three months after having started stimulation and after six months.

The purpose of this study is to determine how combining bouts of low oxygen, transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation, and walking training may improve walking function for people with chronic spinal cord injury.

This randomized clinical trial (RCT) is evaluating the usefulness of combining MyoMo robotic orthosis with visual and haptic feedback in ameliorating wrist/hand/UE movement capability, and increasing ADL and quality of life in people with acute SCI.

The purpose of this research study is to learn more about how patterns of brain activity change during different thinking tasks and how these changes relate to the intensity and unpleasantness of the neuropathic pain that people with SCI experience.

"Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a dramatic event resulting in a long-term handicap. Appropriate care from admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) is a key element not only for the survival of these patients but also to promote their recovery. Moreover, the studies on natural history of SCI have shown that most of the recovery occurs within the first 3 to 6 months post-injury. This period is therefore crucial for these patients. However, the environment of the ICU and the acute condition of the patients limit the rehabilitation possibilities. In such a context, functional proprioceptive stimulations (Vibramoov™ system, Techno Concept, France) could be a tool of interest. By using tendon vibrations, the Vibramoov™ system allows to reproduce the proprioceptive signatures of cyclic movements such as walking. Some studies have already demonstrated the benefits of proprioceptive vibrations. However, so far, these benefits have only been studied at the chronic stage of neurological diseases. The investigators hypothesized that early functional proprioceptive stimulations (FPS) may reduce spasticity and promote sensorimotor recovery in tetraplegic and high paraplegic patients. To test their hypothesis, the investigators conduct a randomized controlled trial on 40 patients with traumatic SCI. These patients will be stratified into two groups according to the completeness of their lesion. Every patient will be included within ten days post-injury and receive either FPS, either sham stimulations to the joints of the lower limbs, 4 times a week during 8 weeks. the primary outcome measures will assess spasticity. the investigators also assess sensorimotor recovery, pain, muscle wasting, cognitive impairment and functional status. "

The purpose of this study is to determine if playing a virtual reality walking game can help improve neuropathic pain in adults with chronic spinal cord injury.