Spinal Cord Injury at C5-Th10 Level With Complete Lesion Clinical Trial
Official title:
Evaluation of the Possibility of Induction of Functional Axon Regeneration in Patients With Complete Spinal Cord Injuries Using Autologous Bulbar Olfactory Ensheathing Cells and Techniques of Bridging of the Spinal Cord.
The purpose of this experimental therapy is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transplantation of autologous olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and olfactory nerve fibroblasts (ONFs) obtained from the olfactory bulb with simultaneous reconstruction of the posttraumatic spinal cord gap with peripheral nerve grafts, in patients with chronic complete spinal cord injury. The treatment will be performed in two patients that have sustained an anatomically complete spinal cord transection between the spinal cord segments C5 and Th10. All patients wanting to participate in this study have to send their application at the address: walk-again-project.org
| Status | Recruiting |
| Enrollment | 2 |
| Est. completion date | March 1, 2023 |
| Est. primary completion date | March 1, 2023 |
| Accepts healthy volunteers | No |
| Gender | All |
| Age group | 16 Years to 65 Years |
| Eligibility | Inclusion Criteria: 1. A single spinal cord injury between vertebral levels C5-Th10 with a total anatomic disruption of continuity. 2. Myelopathy not exceeding 2 spinal cord segments as confirmed by MRI. 3. Complete loss of sensory and motor function below the injury, confirmed in serial control clinical studies (ASIA Category A) and neurophysiological studies (MEP, SSR, EPT, EMG, ENG, von Frey's filaments) 4. Age from 16 to 65 years. 5. Patient undergoing continuous rehabilitation. 6. Good patient motivation and cooperation, no mental disturbances. 7. Patient is ready to stay with an accompanying person for at least 3 years in Poland. 8. Patient without cardiac disease and without epilepsy, does not have peacemaker or any electronic or ferromagnetic implants. Exclusion Criteria: 1. A coexisting lesion of the nervous system. 2. Progressive post-traumatic syringomyelia. 3. Significant spinal stenosis or instability. 4. Muscle atrophy or joint ossifications. 5. Severe systemic disease such as neoplasm, contagious disease, diabetes etc. 6. Chronic sinusitis destroying the paranasal sinuses, tumors of nasal cavities or patients with hyposmia in repetitive smell perception tests will be excluded. 7. Implants or the health status described in point 8 (see above). Note: All patients wanting to participate in this study have to send their application via the walk-again-project.org recruitment website! |
| Country | Name | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | Wroclaw Medical University | Wroclaw |
| Lead Sponsor | Collaborator |
|---|---|
| Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation | Akson, Neuro-Rehabilitation Center for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, University College, London, Wroclaw Medical University |
Poland,
Collins A, Li D, Liadi M, Tabakow P, Fortuna W, Raisman G, Li Y. Partial Recovery of Proprioception in Rats with Dorsal Root Injury after Human Olfactory Bulb Cell Transplantation. J Neurotrauma. 2018 Jun 15;35(12):1367-1378. doi: 10.1089/neu.2017.5273. Epub 2018 Mar 29. — View Citation
Czyz M, Tabakow P, Gheek D, Mis M, Jarmundowicz W, Raisman G. The supraorbital keyhole approach via an eyebrow incision applied to obtain the olfactory bulb as a source of olfactory ensheathing cells--radiological feasibility study. Br J Neurosurg. 2014 Apr;28(2):234-40. doi: 10.3109/02688697.2013.817534. Epub 2013 Jul 19. — View Citation
Czyz M, Tabakow P, Hernandez-Sanchez I, Jarmundowicz W, Raisman G. Obtaining the olfactory bulb as a source of olfactory ensheathing cells with the use of minimally invasive neuroendoscopy-assisted supraorbital keyhole approach--cadaveric feasibility study. Br J Neurosurg. 2015 Jun;29(3):362-70. doi: 10.3109/02688697.2015.1006170. Epub 2015 Feb 7. — View Citation
Ibrahim A, Li D, Collins A, Tabakow P, Raisman G, Li Y. Comparison of olfactory bulbar and mucosal cultures in a rat rhizotomy model. Cell Transplant. 2014;23(11):1465-70. doi: 10.3727/096368913X676213. Epub 2013 Dec 30. — View Citation
Tabakow P, Jarmundowicz W, Czapiga B, Fortuna W, Miedzybrodzki R, Czyz M, Huber J, Szarek D, Okurowski S, Szewczyk P, Gorski A, Raisman G. Transplantation of autologous olfactory ensheathing cells in complete human spinal cord injury. Cell Transplant. 2013;22(9):1591-612. doi: 10.3727/096368912X663532. — View Citation
Tabakow P, Raisman G, Fortuna W, Czyz M, Huber J, Li D, Szewczyk P, Okurowski S, Miedzybrodzki R, Czapiga B, Salomon B, Halon A, Li Y, Lipiec J, Kulczyk A, Jarmundowicz W. Functional regeneration of supraspinal connections in a patient with transected spinal cord following transplantation of bulbar olfactory ensheathing cells with peripheral nerve bridging. Cell Transplant. 2014;23(12):1631-55. doi: 10.3727/096368914X685131. Epub 2014 Oct 21. — View Citation
| Type | Measure | Description | Time frame | Safety issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | improvement of the neurologic state measured by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score. | A positive outcome will be defined as any detectable improvement of motor and /or sensory function below the level of spinal cord injury, that will result that the patient will change from being with complete spinal cord injury (assigned as ASIA A) to incomplete (ASIA B,C,D or E). ASIA E means complete recovery from spinal cord injury-no clinical evidence of neurological impairment. | up to 2 years postoperatively | |
| Primary | improvement of the strenght of trunk muscles measured by the Berg Balance scale | a set of tests evaluating the risk of patient to fall during sitting, standing and transfers
The results from the specific tests assign the patients to the following three groups: 41-56 points = low fall risk; 21-40 pts. = medium fall risk, 0 -20 pts. = high fall risk An improvement of the trunk muscle strenght that will transfer the patient from the high fall risk group to the medium or low fall risk group will be considered as essential clinical improvement. |
up to 2 years postoperatively | |
| Primary | improvement of neurologic state measured with tests of deep sensation | deep pressure tests applied to the specific dermatomal areas,0 points means no deep sensation while 1 point means sensation of same feeling when pressure is applied | up to 2 years postoperatively | |
| Primary | improvement of neurologic state measured with tests of vibration | vibration tests applied on the shoulder, elbow, wrist,finger,knee,malleolus and toe
0 Zero, A Diminished, B More vague description - less accurate than A, C Causalgia, 2 Normal |
up to 2 years postoperatively | |
| Primary | improvement of neurologic state measured with tests of joint position sense | joint position test applied on the wrist, thumb, little finger, knee, ankle and great toe
0 points- absence of joint position sense (during 8 of 10 or more attempts) point- impaired sense (correct only on large movements of the joint during 8 of 10 attempts, and incorrect on small movements of the joint (8 of 10 or more attempts) points- normal sense (during 8 of 10 or more attempts) on small and large movements; |
up to 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | decrease of muscle spasticity for at least 1 level measured the Ashworth scale | The 5 level spasticity Ashworth scale includes:
level 0- no increase in muscle tone, level 1- slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch and release or by minimal, resistance at the end of the range of movement (ROM) when the affected part(s) is moved in flexion or extension, level 2-slight increase in muscle tone, manifested by a catch, followed by minimal resistance throughout the reminder (less than half) of the ROM, level 3-more marked increase in muscle tone throughout most of the ROM but affected part(s) easily moved, level 4-considerable increase in muscle tone passive, movement difficult, level 5-affected part(s) rigid in flexion or extension |
tested monthly for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | Spinal Cord Assessment Tool for Spastic Reflexes ( SCATS) | a test evaluating the clonus rate, and the rate of flexors and extensor muscle spasms
Clonus is rated on a 4 point scale that ranges from: 0 No reaction Mild lasting <3sec Moderate lasting 3-10 seconds Severe lasting > 10 seconds Flexor spasms are rated on a 4 point scale that ranges from: 0 No reaction Mild, less than 10 degrees of excursion in flexion at knee and hip, or extension of the great toe Moderate = 10-30 degrees of flexion at knee and hip Severe with >30 degrees of hip and knee flexion SCATS extensor spasms assessment 0 No reaction Mild lasting <3sec Moderate lasting 3-10 seconds Severe lasting > 10 seconds Test interpretation: The better the patient improvement is, the lower points he will be assigned, reaching at the end the ideal state of being without clonus and muscle spasms (0 points). |
tested monthly for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | improvement of locomotion ability in the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI II) test, | The WISCI II test assesses the patient walking ability from being unable to walk (0 level) to being able to walk normally without any help (level 20).
Interpretation of the test: Any patient improvement that will assign him to a higher level of walking independency compared to the preoperative state will be considered as positive outcome. |
tested monthly for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | 10 meter walking test | a test measuring the velocity of walking the distance of 10 meters; (only the middle 6 meters are timed);
Any improvement of the ambulation velocity will be considered as positive outcome. |
tested monthly for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | 2 minutes walking test | a test measuring the distance ambulated in 2 minutes [m]
Any improvement of the distance of ambulation in the period of 2 minutes will be considered as positive outcome. |
tested monthly for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | time up and go test | The patient should sit on a standard arm chair, placing his/her back against the chair and resting his/her arms chair's arms. Any assistive device used for walking should be nearby. Regular footwear and customary walking aids should be used. The patient should walk to a line that is 3 meters (9.8 feet) away, turn around at the line, walk back to the chair, and sit down.
Any decrease of the time needed for completion of this test will be considered as positive outcome. |
tested monthly for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | improvement measured by the spinal cord independence measure (SCIM III) test | improvement of the patient self care ability | tested monthly for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | neurophysiological evidence of reconnection of fibers from motor origin | a set of tests evaluating the conductivity of efferent central and peripheral nerve fibers and the muscle response to electrical stimulation, including motor evoked potentials (MEP), electromyography (EMG) and electroneurography (ENG), | tested every 3 months for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | neurophysiological evidence of reconnection of fibers from sensory origin | the electrical perceptual thresholding (EPT) test- evaluating the dermatomal sensation of the upper and lower limbs in the condition of low voltage current application (from 0 to 7-8 mA)
Interpretation of the test: any tingling sensation reported by the patient in the previously anesthetic dermatomes, in the condition of current below 4 mA will be considered as essential improvement of skin sensation. |
tested every 3 months for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | neurophysiological evidence of reconnection of fibers from vegetative origin | skin sympathetic response (SSR)
Electrophysiological study assessing the integrity of the supraspinal autonomic pathways. Is performed on the median and tibial nerves. Test interpretation: any positive vegetative response in the tested paralyzed limbs that was previously absent will be considered as positive outcome. |
tested every 3 months for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | improvement of urination registered in the urodynamic study | a test measuring the electrophysiological activity of the bladder muscles and the bladder sensation
Test interpretation: Any evidence of bladder detrusor -urethral sphincter synergy, together with the evidence of improved urination will be considered as positive outcome |
tested every 3 months for at least 2 years postoperatively | |
| Secondary | evidence regrowth of spinal cord fibers detected on MRI scans, evidence of functional reorganization of the brain detected in advanced MRI protocols; lack of tumorigenesis, spinal cord inflammation, progressive syringomyelia; | evidence of spinal cord fiber reconstitution and brain center reorganization detected on MRI scans, including advanced imaging techniques | MRI imaging of the spinal cord and brain will be performed every 3 months in the first year and every 6 months in the second year |