View clinical trials related to Paralysis.
Filter by:This study evaluates a medialization implant to treat vocal cord paralysis, to permit it to adjust the quality of the voice under local or general anesthesia. The aim is to restore phonation using a porous titanium prosthesis in laryngeal surgery.
Bilateral laryngeal reinnervation induces a rise in laryngeal resistance and speech alteration. The aim of this study is to propose laryngeal reinnervation by a phrenic nerve root to patients with bilateral laryngeal paralysis.
This study will classify types of hypertonia in patients with cerebral palsy and determine if the classifications are reasonable in relation to the functional task of walking. Hypertonia is an abnormal increase in muscle tension. It is a common symptom of cerebral palsy that can lead to loss of function and deformity. This study may help scientists improve evaluation criteria for hypertonia and, ultimately, treatment results. Patients with cerebral palsy who are older than 6 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and clinical evaluation. Participants are asked to walk in the lab while cameras record their movement. During this test, subjects wear a t-shirt and shorts with their arms and legs wrapped with a soft, rubber-like material. A piece of firm material is attached to the rubber sleeves and small plastic reflective balls are attached to the firm material. Balls may also be attached to the skin, using an adhesive. With the balls in place, the subject walks several times while cameras record the positions of the balls. In addition, small metal electrodes attached to the skin with an adhesive measure the electrical activity in the muscles. After the walking test is completed, subjects' leg muscle strength is measured with a special device while they perform three activities. First, they sit on a special chair with their leg and foot placed in an apparatus that measures their strength, then lie on their back, then on their stomach, and then stand on one foot holding a bar to balance during part of one activity. During the activities, their reflexes are tested, they are asked to move their legs, and their legs are moved for them.
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.
This study will examine how the brain controls movements in patients with certain types of cerebral palsy. In healthy people, one side of the body usually controls movements on the other side of the body. In patients with cerebral palsy, this pattern may be altered, and one side of the brain may control movements on the same side of the body. Information obtained from this study may lead to improved rehabilitation therapy strategies for patients with cerebral palsy. Healthy volunteers and patients with cerebral palsy between 6 and 18 years of age may be eligible for this study. All candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, and psychological testing. In addition, patients with cerebral palsy will have hearing and vision tests, a review of their medical records, and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan if one has not been done within the past year. For this test, the patient lies on a table that slides into a narrow metal cylinder with a strong magnetic field (the scanner). The scanning time usually lasts between 45 and 90 minutes. Patients enrolled in the study also will be evaluated by a physiatrist and physical and occupational therapists. They will be examined for muscle stiffness and reflexes. Their gait and movements (e.g., how they pick up a glass of water) will be evaluated. They will be asked about their ability to perform activities around the house and at school and whether a wheelchair or walker is needed to get around. Patients may also be asked about how they are dealing with their movement problems and how it affects their caregivers. All participants will undergo three tests, described below, to evaluate movement control. The first two tests use electrodes (small metal discs) taped to the skin over the muscles in both hands to measure muscle activity. A small disc placed on the fingers detects and measures the hand movements. The third test uses magnetic pulses that stimulate the brain to study how the brain controls movements. 1. Quantitative test of fine motor function: For this test, the subject taps buttons at different speeds on a box attached to a computer. The test is similar to playing simple computer games. 2. Long latency reflexes: For this test, the subject's hand is lightly strapped into a holder that holds the hand still while a motor moves the index finger with sudden small movements. These reflexes may also be tested using a gentle shock to the finger delivered through a ring electrode. 3. Transcranial magnetic stimulation: For this test, the subject sits in a comfortable chair. An insulated coil is held on the scalp. A magnetic pulse from the coil stimulates the brain. The subject may hear a click and feel a snap or pulling sensation on the scalp under the coil. The stimulation may also cause twitching in the muscles of the arm or leg. During the stimulation, the subject may be asked to move certain muscles or perform other simple actions.
Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) is caused by injury to the nerve to the affected vocal fold. The injury to the vocal fold makes the affected person's voice sound "breathy". Voice therapy is usually tried first, and, if unsuccessful, surgical treatment is considered. The standard surgical treatment is called vocal fold medialization and aims to bring the injured cord to the midline. An alternative surgical treatment, vocal fold reinnervation, aims to bring a new nerve supply to the injured vocal fold. The reinnervation operation, which has some potential advantages over the medialization operation also requires several months for final results to be gained. The goal of this multicenter, randomized clinical trial is to see which of the two surgical treatments produces a better outcome. In order to participate in this study patients with UVFP must meet all entry criteria and must be released from voice therapy by a speech-language pathologist. Information collected for the study (pre-surgery, and at 6 and 12 months after surgery) includes voice recordings, movies made of vocal fold function, airflow and pressure measurements of the voicebox, and an outcomes questionnaire.
This study examines botulinum toxin (BOTOX, or BTX) for the treatment of muscle twitches and spasticity associated with cerebral palsy in children. Botulinum toxin is a naturally occurring bacterial toxin (botulinum toxin) that inactivates certain parts of muscles.
OBJECTIVES: I. Assess the efficacy of dichlorphenamide in the treatment of episodic weakness attacks in patients with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, paramyotonia congenita with periodic paralysis, and hypokalemic periodic paralysis.
The purpose of this study is to determine if giving amphetamines along with standard rehabilitation speeds motor recovery after a stroke. In addition, if motor recovery is improved, the study will also identify the areas of the brain involved with the recovery. Researchers will use motor function ratings, PET scans, functional MRI (fMRI), electroencephalographs, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to evaluate patients. Patients participating in the study will be placed in one of two groups; 1. Patients receiving dextroamphetamine and routine Rehabilitation Medicine 2. Patients receiving a placebo "sugar pill" and routine Rehabilitation Medicine Patients that have improved motor recovery will undergo neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies to identify areas of the brain involved.
Neuromuscular blocking agents are commonly used to facilitate endotracheal intubation. Succinylcholine, an ultra short-acting, depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, is the most commonly used agent for paralysis in this setting because of its rapid onset and short duration of paralysis. In patients with contraindications to succinylcholine or in whom a difficult airway is anticipated, a neuromuscular blocking agent with a pharmacodynamic profile similar to succinylcholine would be an attractive alternative. Rocuronium, a new intermediate-acting nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent produces paralysis within 60 seconds, similar to succinylcholine, but has a duration of paralysis of approximately 20 to 30 minutes. If rocuronium-induced paralysis could be chemically reversed within 10 to 15 minutes after the administration of an intubating dose, it may be an appropriate alternative in patients with contraindications to succinylcholine or in patients whom a difficult airway is anticipated. Neostigmine is an anticholinesterase agent which inhibits the hydrolysis of acetylcholine by competing with acetylcholine for attachment to acetylcholinesterase. Inhibition of the breakdown of acetylcholine allows the neurotransmitter to be present in the neuromuscular junction for a longer period of time, so that each molecule can bind repeatedly with the acetylcholine receptor. The purpose of this study is to determine the dose of neostigmine necessary for the early reversal of rocuronium-induced paralysis.