Active clinical trials for "Wounds and Injuries"

Blood flow through the brain is reduced after brain damage. Secondary brain ischemia caused by hypoxia and hypotension, further increase the susceptibility of the ischemically compromised brain to secondary impairment during this period. In order to determine whether and to what extent blockage of the stellate ganglion (BSG) affects the blood flow to the injured brain, the investigators will measure the variables of brain blood flow before and after BSG using computed tomography angiography (CTA), trans-cranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD), intracranial pressure (ICP) and perfusion computed tomography (PCT) of the brain. At the same time, the investigators would like to evaluate whether and to what extent BSG affects the aseptic inflammatory brain injury response and the biochemical indicators of brain damage in patients with moderate and severe brain injury.

Blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy is a brief and partial restriction of venous outflow of an extremity during low load resistance exercises. It is a safe and effective method of improving strength in healthy and active individuals, recovering from orthopedic pathologies and procedures. This prospective, randomized study will look at the implications this form of treatment has on the rehabilitation of Achilles injuries.

Chronic pain affects 1 in 4 US adults, and many cases are resistant to almost any treatment. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) holds promise as a new option for patients suffering from treatment-resistant chronic pain, but traditional approaches target only brain regions involved in one aspect of the pain experience and provide continuous 24/7 brain stimulation which may lose effect over time. By developing new technology that targets multiple, complimentary brain regions in an adaptive fashion, the investigators will test a new therapy for chronic pain that has potential for better, more enduring analgesia.

After incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), many people still have control over their upper and/or lower limbs, but secondary conditions such as spasticity impair the function they have left. Spasticity includes increased reflex response and muscle tone, and is often painful. In this study we want to test a rehabilitation therapy to reduce spasticity after iSCI and improve participants' control over their extremities. The study involves recording participants' brain signals (EEG) and displaying them on a computer, so that they learn to control specific features derived from their brain waves. This is called neurofeedback (NF). Two studies conducted in our group that explored NF effect on central neuropathic pain in iSCI reported as incidental finding a decrease in spasms, muscle tightness and foot drop. The effect of NF is immediate and lasts up to 24 hours. In this study, we will explore systematically the short- and medium-term effect of NF on a larger number of iSCI, to inform a potential randomized clinical trial. Gaining control over one's brain activity requires practice and 80-90% people eventually learn the skill. Each participant will therefore attend five sessions of NF taking no longer than two hours each. 20 participants will be recruited and assigned to either upper or lower limb spasticity groups. This will allow us to determine if the mechanism of NF differs between arms and legs. Participants will be further grouped into sub-acute and chronic groups, depending on the time since injury, to pinpoint at what stage post-injury NF is the most effective. All groups will receive the same number of NF sessions. The primary outcome of this study is the change in spasticity of the hand or leg, as measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Secondary outcomes include use of arm/leg, quality of life, and the relation between functional improvement and EEG changes. Outcomes will be compared before/after each session, and before/after the whole intervention period, both inter- and intra-group.

Objective of the study is to assess the safety and efficacy of CO2 removal by the multiECCO2R (CO2 Removal System) on the multiFiltrate/multiFiltrate Pro in veno-venous extracorporeal circulation during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in patients presenting with hypercapnia due to acute lung failure and acute kidney injury.

The purpose of this study is to stimulate the circuits in the spinal cord that are directly responsible for hemodynamic control to restore hemodynamic stability in patients with chronic cervical or high-thoracic spinal cord injury. The ultimate objective of this feasibility study is to provide preliminary safety and efficacy measures on the ability of the hemodynamic Targeted Epidural Spinal Stimulation (TESS) to ensure the long-term management of hemodynamic instability and reduce the incidence and severity of orthostatic hypotension and autonomic dysreflexia episodes in humans with chronic cervical or high-thoracic spinal cord injury. In addition, the long-term safety and efficacy of TESS on cardiovascular health, respiratory function, spasticity, trunk stability and quality of life in patients with chronic spinal cord injury will be evaluated.

Post Market Surveillance Study to confirm the safety and performance of Silver II Non-Woven Dressing in Chronic and Acute Wounds

"Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious condition, common in young adults. It leads to sensorimotor and cognitive sequelae that hinder social reintegration. Neuronal plasticity must be used quickly before natural recovery impedes neuronal regrowth. In this respect, stopping sedation as soon as possible and early mobilization, even if the patients are unconscious, are recognized as useful measures to promote recovery. However, at the early stage, 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 the proprioceptive signatures of cyclic movements, proprioceptive stimulations can elicit the illusion of these movements. A motor response can even be obtained through the interactions between the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. Finally, such stimulations facilitate the initiation of the mimicked movements. Some studies have already shown 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 recovery in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. To test the hypothesis, the investigators conduct a randomized controlled trial on patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Every patient will be included as soon as possible in the ICU 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 pain, coma recovery; muscle wasting and cognitive impairments. "

Nonoperative management (NOM) of blunt splenic injuries has been the standard of care for decades. While many splenic injuries can be successfully observed, studies have demonstrated increased failure rates for higher grade injuries, which prompted some institutions to perform SAE prophylactically. The current literature comparing observation and SAE is limited to observational data and is frequently inconsistent. As such, the standard of care varies across institutions and both strategies are considered acceptable management for splenic injuries. Our own institution does not routinely perform SAE and our splenic salvage rate exceed 90% but the investigators noted an increased rate of NOM failure in patients with a contrast blush on CT. Contrast blush is a known risk factor for NOM failure and has been cited as a reason to perform SAE, but even within this population no randomized trials have been performed to demonstrate if SAE improves outcomes. The purpose of this project is to provide definitive high-quality evidence for the effectiveness of SAE to decrease the rate of NOM failure in high grade splenic injuries.

Neurogenic osteoporosis is a common complication of spinal cord injury (SCI) that is associated with low impact bone fractures. It is concerning that more than 46,000 Veterans affected with SCI and are at risk of osteoporosis and possible low impact fractures. About fifty percent of all individuals with SCI will develop low impact fracture in their life time. The management of osteoporosis-related fractures can impose substantial economic burden on the health care system, the individual and the families. Previous studies did not succeed in reversing the process of bone loss after SCI. In the present pilot study, we will evaluate the effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Resistance Training in combination with oral Vitamin D supplementation, on bone quality in Veterans with chronic SCI, using a randomized experimental design.