View clinical trials related to Spinal Cord Injuries.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to find out if risedronate works for the treatment of osteoporosis for people with spinal cord injury.
The overall purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate CSF drainage as a potential neuroprotective strategy after acute spinal cord injury (SCI).
The purpose of this study is to collect data comparing two means of providing locomotor training: manual and robotic and the possible differential effects it may have on walking ability for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Brief Summary Detailed Description Background: A multitude of risk factors for falling has been reported for the elderly, however many of these risk factors are not applicable to persons with a spinal cord injury, who use a wheelchair for mobility. The objectives of this study are to: (1) describe the incidence and prevalence of tips, falls, and fall-related injuries in SCI; (2) describe the epidemiology of the fall event (person, time, place, and activity); (3) describe any injuries associated with a fall, including the mechanism and nature of the injury, severity of injury, as well as treatment required; (4) determine the risk factors related to falls and fall-related injuries in SCI, and develop a model for predicting falls and fall-related injuries in SCI; (5) determine healthcare utilization as well as direct and indirect costs associated with fall-related injuries in SCI; and (6) describe patient-perceived short- and long-term consequences of falls in SCI. The data collection for this study was completed on March 31, 2007, and data analysis is in final phase. Objectives: The objectives of the study are to describe: (1) the incidence and prevalence of wheelchair tips, falls, and fall-related injuries; (2) epidemiology of event; (3) injuries associated with event, including mechanism, nature, severity of injury and treatment required; (4) determine risk factors and develop a model for predicting tips and falls; (5) determine healthcare utilization and direct and indirect costs; and (6) describe perceived short- and long-term consequences of falls in SCI. Methods: This is a prospective cohort study. Data was collected through patient surveys, medical records, and VA databases. Baseline information includes risk factors (e.g., user characteristics, wheelchair features, wheelchair activities, etc.) and physical environmental data. Monthly follow-up calls tracked tips, falls, and injuries. Status: Recruitment ended on April 1, 2006 with a total of 702 subjects, and data collection was completed on March 31, 2007. The Data Safety Monitoring Board for this study conducted its final meeting on September 17, 2007. Data has been analyzed and 17 manuscripts are currently in development. Impact: While much is known about falls in elderly, there is a lack of understanding of the epidemiology of wheelchair-related falls. Our project is expected to identify previously unaccounted for factors that predispose persons with SCI to falls and fall-related injuries. This study will result in the creation of a model for predicting falls and fall-related injuries in SCI. The predictive model will be used to develop intervention strategies targeting modifiable risk factors. Eventually, we will test this predictive model with other vulnerable veteran populations. Findings from this study wil be used to develop an instrument to identify fall risk in persons with SCI.
This study involves research about how to help Veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI) gain employment. During the first couple of years following SCI, many people are concentrating on their rehabilitation and are unable to afford the time for return to work. However, studies have shown people often regain the necessary strength and function about two years after SCI to resume activities of daily living very similar to what they experienced prior to the SCI. Even though many social and legal efforts have been made in the last decade to improve chances for people with disabilities to return to work, Veterans with SCI are sometimes hindered in finding employment because of age, past work history, and many other factors. Other Veterans with SCI are very successful at finding employment either working for themselves or working for a company. The investigators know very little about what issues Veterans with SCI face when they attempt to find employment after SCI. The study will analyze both quantitative and qualitative measures to maximize its findings.
The purpose of this trial is to determine the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation to produce an effective cough in patients with spinal cord injuries.
Objective: The objective of this research is to undertake a safety and viability study of FES-evoked stepping in individuals with paraplegia. The rationale for this objective is based upon the need to clarify whether physiological limitations, especially orthostatic intolerance, limit functional mobility outcomes. The cardiovascular, autonomic, and muscle metabolic factors governing orthostatic tolerance during skin-surface FES stepping will be investigated, since this functional task forms the basis of upright mobility and engenders strong physiological challenges upon key regulatory processes in the SCI (spinal cord injury) patient. Specific Hypotheses: i. Reduction of blood pressure will be greater during FES-evoked stepping than during passive stepping; ii. Reduction of blood pressure will be greater during FES-evoked stepping with no upper body component versus FES-stepping with an upper body component; iii. Blood pressure will be reduced even further during FES-evoked stepping following a 6-week progressive-intensity gait training intervention.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether HP184 is effective in the treatment of chronic spinal cord injury (CSCI).
This study is part of a larger clinical trial that examines the potential of a 12-week treadmill-training program to improve walking in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Patients in the trial are at least 1 year past their injury. This substudy tests a combination of two strategies to enhance the treadmill training program: electrically stimulating a muscle withdrawal reflex and providing body weight support by partially suspending patients as they walk on the treadmill.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of pulsatile lavage to enhance the healing of pressure ulcers in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The goals will be achieved using a repeated-measures double-blinded randomized controlled study of individuals with SCI who have pelvic region pressure ulcers. A total of 60 subjects will be recruited to this study. Participants will be randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Pulsatile lavage treatment will be administered to the treatment group daily for a 3 week period. The control group subjects will receive daily sham pulsatile lavage treatment for 3 weeks. All subjects will be monitored for a 3 week period and will continue to receive routine pressure ulcer care, i.e. dressings and bedrest with a regular turning regime during their participation in the study. All study participants will be monitored following the study period until complete closure of the pressure ulcer is achieved in order to determine total interval to final closure, including any surgical procedures required. In addition, the economic effects of pulsatile lavage treatment will be evaluated through monitoring of data collected in the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS), including duration of admission, duration of total bedrest order and duration of treatment for pressure ulcer. This data will give an initial measure of the cost benefits that may be achieved with the use of pulsatile lavage for the treatment of pressure ulcers. Subjects will be recruited from the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (CVAMC). All individuals with spinal cord injury who are admitted to the SCI Unit with pelvic region pressure ulcers will be considered eligible for this study. Further selection criteria will be employed to screen potential participants as described below. On recruitment subjects will be randomly assigned to 2 groups of 20 subjects. The assessment methods employed will be the same for each volunteer. One group will participate in the pulsatile lavage intervention, the second group will act as controls.