Active clinical trials for "Spinal Cord Injuries"

The purpose of this study is to see what effects sacral neuromodulation has on bladder function and quality of life in patients with acute spinal cord injury. Within 12-weeks of injury, participants will either receive an implanted nerve stimulator (like a pace-maker for the bladder) or standard care for neurogenic bladder. Patients will be assigned to one of these groups at random and followed for one year. The hypothesis is that early stimulation of the nerves will help prevent the development of neurogenic bladder.

Recently, a transcutaneous protocol of electrical spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) has been developed. It was suggested, that this method could be used to improve the therapy process after a spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate effects of tSCS with different stimulation modalities on voluntary motor control in patients with incomplete SCI.

All patients with a significant deficiency of skin sensitivity and reduced mobility are potentially at risk of Pressure Ulcers (PUs), in particular the persons affected by Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), also due to their frequent alteration or loss of subcutaneous skin sensitivity. Pressure sores are one of the most common and fearful complications in SCI, with a severe impact on quality of life and on care health costs. They are often the cause of lengthening the time of hospitalization, slowing down clinical and rehabilitation programs and re-hospitalization. PUs, when arisen, heal slowly and, despite the protracted conservative medical therapies, sometimes they do not come to complete healing. Sometimes plastic surgery is needed, although even after it recurrence rates remain high. Further treatments have been proposed in addition to the usual medication, however they are characterized by a certain degree of invasiveness and are often conditioned by the availability of specific and sometimes expensive equipment, as well as by the presence of highly qualified personnel. In general, there is also a lack of good quality clinical trials for assessing their effectiveness and safety and they are often not decisive, especially for severe and recalcitrant ulcers. Among alternative techniques for the healing of skin ulcers in general, the adhesive elastic bandage, also known as "kinesio taping" and already recognized for the treatment of edema, hematoma and scarring, has been proposed. However, specific protocols and published studies are not available for PUs. The Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, that hosts the largest Spinal Unit in Italy, pays great attention to the prevention and treatment of PUs in both acute and chronic patients. The rationale for the taping positioning around PUs investigated in this study is to improve lymphatic drainage and reactivation of the superficial bloodstream by increasing interstitial spaces and reducing skin and subcutaneous compression, notoriously compromised in the areas of onset of pressure sores. The total shortage in the literature and in user manuals of taping protocols for PUs supports this preliminary, exploratory, descriptive and uncontrolled pilot study with the primary aim of verifying the safety of a taping treatment for medium/severe grade PUs, "add-on" to the usual care. The choice of the ulcer sites selected (sacral and heel) has been affected by the feasibility of tape positioning.

Research indicates that increasing brain excitability might help improve hand function in people with spinal cord injury. Brain stimulation that uses electrodes placed on the surface of the scalp (also called "non-invasive brain stimulation") increases brain excitability and has the potential to make it easier for the brain and nervous system to respond to arm and hand training. The purpose of this study is to compare four different types of stimulation for increasing brain excitability to determine which types are best for helping people with tetraplegia improve their ability to use their arms and hands. To fully evaluate the value of brain stimulation on arm and hand function, the investigators will also evaluate the effect of sham (fake) stimulation. Each participant will receive a single session of each of the five types of stimulation being tested.

This study will investigate how repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) using intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) paradigm affects sensorimotor dysfunction such as pain, spasticity, motor weakness and sensory loss. TMS is technique which allows non-invasive stimulation of the cortex, and can modulate activity of neurons. The purpose of this study will be to assess the feasibility of using TMS with iTBS paradigm to treat sensorimotor dysfunction in people with incomplete spinal cord injury affecting the upper limbs.

Falling is common among individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), with most falls occurring while walking. Falls result in injuries (e.g., broken bones), hospital readmission, and reduced participation in work and recreation. In able-bodied people, falls can be prevented by taking one or more rapid, reactive steps. People with iSCI, however, have difficulty taking the reactive steps needed to prevent a fall. Research in the elderly and people with stroke has shown that repetitive training of reactive steps in a safe environment improves this balance reaction and prevents falls. The investigators will examine the feasibility and effectiveness of reactive step training in people with iSCI. The main objective is to determine if reactive balance training leads to greater improvements in balance reactions, scores on clinical scales, and fall rates compared with conventional walking training. A three year, pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) will be completed. By improving balance and reducing falls, people with iSCI will experience fewer complications (e.g., injuries), and greater recovery of function and community participation.

To observe modified Barthel index, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale grading, sensory score and motor score in patients with incomplete SCI in the plateau using 0.2 MPa HBO combined with pedicle screw fixation and decompressive laminectomy so as to investigate the effect of HBO therapy on incomplete SCI in the plateau.

Thromboprophylaxis options are limited for patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) and there are no studies on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for thromboprophylaxis in this population. Participants will be randomized to apixaban 2.5 mg twice daily or standard dose low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), either enoxaparin 40 mg or dalteparin 5000 units, subcutaneously once daily for 90 days or until fully mobilized, whatever comes first. Thromboprophylaxis will be started as soon as hemostasis is achieved. The primary outcome for this pilot study will be the recruitment rate per year (i.e. the screened to enrolled ratio). The primary efficacy endpoint will be a composite of symptomatic, objectively verified, venous thromboembolism (VTE), defined as upper or lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE) or sudden death where PE cannot be excluded. The primary safety endpoint will be major bleeding.

Non-invasive brain stimulation has gained increasing popularity and research support over the past several years. Recent research indicates that it might have benefits for improving hand function in people with spinal cord injury. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a type of non-invasive brain stimulation, known as tDCS, on hand function.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and intravaginal neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) are effective in reducing urinary incontinence and improving quality of life in women with spinal cord injury (SCI).