Active clinical trials for "Spinal Cord Injuries"

This study will evaluate the effect of single transplantation of HuCNS-SC cells into the thoracic spinal cord of patients with sub-acute spinal cord injury.

The investigators seek to determine the efficacy, duration of action and safety of escalating dose of droxidopa on systemic blood pressure, cerebral blood flow and vasoactive hormones and catecholamines during upright seated posture. Primary Question: 1. What is the lowest dose of droxidopa that increases seated SBP to 115±5 mmHg in men and 105±5 mmHg in women? When does the defined increase in SBP occur after oral ingestion of droxidopa? How long does this dose of droxidopa sustain SBP at these levels? What are the vital signs and the subjective symptomology following droxidopa administration? Secondary Question: 1. What is the MFV response to droxidopa administration in hypotensive individuals with SCI? Does an increase in SBP correspond to an increase in MCA MFV? Tertiary Question: 1. What is the vasoactive hormone and catecholamine response to droxidopa administration in hypotensive individuals with SCI? Does droxidopa administration result in a change in APR, Aldo or NE in hypotensive individuals with SCI?

The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility, safety, efficacy and optimal dose of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell transplant in the treatment of chronic spinal cord injuries.

Shoulder pain is common in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). It is most often caused by overuse injuries to the muscles and tendons that can occur during wheelchair propulsion, transfers, and other activities of daily living. Normally, shoulder pain resolves with conservative treatments such non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) and physical therapy. However, when these treatments fail, shoulder surgery may be the only option. Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, or PRP, is a treatment option for non-healing muscle and tendon injuries such as those that cause shoulder pain in persons with SCI. Using one's own blood, cells within the blood called "platelets" are concentrated and then re-injected into the muscle and tendon of the shoulder. These platelets release substances known as "growth factors" that lead to tissue healing. By concentrating the platelets we increase the growth factors up to eight times which will promote the healing of tendons. PRP therapy has shown promise in treating tendon and muscle injuries in able-bodied persons; however, its effectiveness in persons with SCI is unknown. The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of PRP therapy for chronic shoulder pain in persons with SCI. The human body has a remarkable ability to heal itself and we hypothesize that re-injecting concentrated platelets will facilitate the natural healing process and will reduce shoulder pain in persons with SCI.

Maintenance of bone mass following spinal cord injury (SCI) is essential to fracture prevention and the associated morbidity of bed rest and further secondary complications. Intravenous (IV) zoledronic acid (ZA) is an FDA-approved drug that has been shown to be more effective than other agents in reducing bone mass resorption and leg fractures in post-menopausal women, but has not been studied in patients with acute SCI. This will be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of IV ZA to prevent bone loss early after SCI. Up to 48 subjects will be randomized to receive a one-time dose of 5 mg of IV ZA versus placebo within 21 days of an SCI.

To investigate the clinical effect of detrusor botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection on neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and renal function and to compare the difference of expressions of sensory receptors and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the bladder wall of patients respond and not respond to BoNT-A injections in chronic spinal cord injured (SCI) patients.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether longer locomotor training results in a mor favorable outcome in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.

The trial is to investigate the safety and efficacy of oral lithium, intraspinal umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell transplant, and the combination in the treatment of acute and subacute spinal cord injury

The purpose of this study is to determine whether botulinum toxin A is effective in the treatment of neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury patients.

The main goal of this project is to determine the effects of lidocaine lubricant on cardiovascular function during routine bowel care in individuals with spinal cord injury. Bowel care is a common trigger of blood pressure and heart rate changes after spinal cord injury. In this project, we will be measuring blood pressure and heart rate non-invasively during normal bowel routine (which can be performed in the subject's home or at one of the investigators facilities). The measurements will occur twice over a period of 28 days: once using lidocaine lubricant and once using normal (placebo) lubricant. The recording equipment will be attached and subjects will have complete privacy during their bowel routine. The trial will be double-blind, meaning that neither the subject or the Nurse Continence Advisor who assists with testing will know which lubricant is being used for each test. The use of a lubricant gel containing an anesthetic is the standard of care in many hospital facilities when performing bowel care for individuals with spinal cord injury; however, it is not often used in the home setting. It is thought that using anaesthetic might reduce the cardiovascular effects of bowel care after spinal cord injury. However, it is not known whether this is the case. The investigators hypothesize that the lidocaine lubricant will alleviate some of the blood pressure and heart rate changes that occur during bowel care.