Active clinical trials for "Wounds and Injuries"

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an exercise program proposed by the CHORDATA® Method on the functionality, maximal isometric torque, muscle activity and muscle thickness of trunk muscles in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury. The hypothesis is that the CHORDATA® Method could reduce the deleterious effects of the traumatic spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) may result in physical deficits that require assistance from others in order to stay healthy and live independently in a community. The assistance provided by caregivers to a family member with SCI often involves a wide range of activities from helping with basic activities, like toileting and bathing, to managing more complex tasks, such as keeping up with household finances, shopping, and transportation. Caregiving puts demands on an individual's ability to cope and deal with day-to-day stresses, and may be influenced by personal beliefs about one's ability to cope with stress. Beliefs about our ability to perform tasks that affect our lives have been termed "self-efficacy". A strong sense of self-efficacy has been shown to positively impact life choices, motivation, quality of functioning, resilience to adversity, and vulnerability to stress and depression. People with low self-efficacy tend to avoid challenges, discontinue tasks that are difficult, and be at risk for more depression and stress, resulting in less satisfaction with life. This study uses a psychological strategy, called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to enhance self-efficacy skills for caregivers of family members with SCI, with a focus on changing thinking styles to help people make emotional and behavioral changes. The investigators hypothesize that by providing family caregivers with a six week group educational intervention, their self-efficacy skills as well as general life satisfaction can be improved, and minimize depression, stress and anxiety that often accompany the caregiving role. The innovation of the proposed intervention is its integration of positive psychotherapy concepts into structured group CBT to develop optimistic self-efficacy beliefs, strengthen the caregiver's ability to deal with day-to-day stress, and enhance a sense of well-being in the caregiver which, in turn, may benefit the family member with SCI.

This study is a randomized control trial in volunteer blood donors to quantify the effect of blood loss and subsequent crystalloid infusion on hemoglobin and markers of resuscitation such as base deficit and lactate.

To investigate the efficacy of lithium carbonate in the treatment of neuropathic pain of patients with spinal cord injury.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the Veraflo with Prontosan vs VAC in wounds that require operative debridement.

This is a prospective, randomized trial comparing the outcomes for Prontosan versus normal saline as the solution for negative pressure wound therapy with instillation (NWPTi). Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a well established method of treatment for acute and chronic wounds. The combination of negative pressure with instillation of a solution is a relatively novel concept that has gained popularity and is currently used nationally and internationally. NPWTi is the standard of care for our division. Despite the growing use, there is limited information regarding the selection of the ideal instillation solution. This is a single site, investigator initiated, NPWTi study comparing the use of Prontosan with normal saline for the adjunctive treatment of the acutely infected wound that requires hospital admission. A total of 100 subjects will be included with 50 subjects in each treatment arm. The outcomes that will be measured are 1) number of operations, 2) length of hospital stay, 3) % of wounds closed prior to discharge, 4) time to closure prior to discharge, 5)% remained closed at 30 day follow-up, and 6) reduction of qualitative bacterial cultures. The results from this study will better characterize the most appropriate use of NPWTi.

The aims of this study are to assess the effects of medium versus high intensity 12-week adjusted training programs on physical capacity in persons with incomplete SCI, early after discharge from primary rehabilitation, and to investigate if the training program induces a more active lifestyle in terms of increased daily energy expenditure.

This study will enroll 10 adults with a chronic spinal cord injury. The investigators will image their damaged motor tracts using MRI tractography scanning, and the investigators will formally assess their ASIA motor level at the outset of the study. Then, the investigators will treat them with one year of 'over the counter' dosage of selenium and vitamin E. These are two vitamins known to be anti-oxidants. After one year the investigators will repeat the MRI scans and ASIA assessments to determine if their has been any change in the appearance of motor tracts on MRI tractography, or in motor level on ASIA exam. As this is a pilot study the investigators are primarily concerned with establishing safety of this intervention, with a view to conducting a larger and more rigorous controlled trial in the future. The investigators also have a small hope that in fact some improvement might be found with vitamin treatment.

Nerve Transfer surgery can provide improved hand function following cervical spinal cord injuries

This study is studying the effects of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a standard protocol of gentle yoga and breath meditation, on patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The investigators are testing whether this intervention can help improve the stress response and increase resiliency and mindfulness for patients with TBI, which may lead to improved symptoms and neurocognitive function.