View clinical trials related to Spinal Cord Injuries.
Filter by:Family caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) provide the majority of care and are at high risk of experiencing caregiver burden, which not only impacts caregivers' own wellbeing, but also their ability to respond to patients' needs. Health education using online approaches (eHealth) has the potential to improve quality of care, enhance communication between health care users and providers, reduce costs and increase access to existing knowledge and education for family caregivers. Here, the investigators propose a research study to assess the quality of the eHealth program. The findings of this study will lead to the refinement of the eHealth program.
To determine a lower effective dose of neostigmine to induce bowel evacuation by transcutaneous administration by iontophoresis.
Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) have neurogenic bowel disorders which is associated with significant morbidity. The negative impact of bowel complications is often at the top of the list of problems reported by persons with SCI. Despite the magnitude of the problem of bowel dysfunction in persons with SCI, and the associated reduction in quality of life, this condition has yet to be effectively treated. The investigators have developed a novel dual drug combination to elicit a safe and predictable bowel evacuation (BE). The ability to move the bowel contents along to the rectum was severely impaired primary because of poor gut contractions on the left side of the colon, as shown by our team of investigators. To address this problem, a dual medication combination (neostigmine and glycopyrrolate) was developed that safely and predictably caused the bowel to empty after delivering these drugs into a vein (intravenously) or into the muscle bed (intramuscularly). Because no one likes needles, and because of the practical limits of administering medications on a routine basis by the use of needles, especially in persons with SCI because of their other health considerations, the investigators have devised a new approach: driving these medications across the skin and into the circulation of the body by applying an electrical current that is too small to feel (iontophoresis). The proposed research project to determine the safety of positively charged compounds (e.g., vitamin B12, NEO, and GLY) administered transcutaneously by the prototype wireless ION device and to compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of transcutaneous administration of NEO and GLY by the wireless ION device to a commercially available wired ION device. The potential administration of any number of other positively charged agents by this wireless prototype may be a clinically relevant outcome of this work. The ability to use a wireless ION device is far more practical for patients to use, especially those with SCI, which will permit the self-administration of these agents in the home setting to induce a bowel evacuation.
To evaluate the usefulness of an upper extremity assistive device, called (MyoPro) in improving upper extremity activities in people with incomplete spinal cord injury. The Department of Defense is supporting this study.
The main objective of the study is to assess the safety and tolerability of cavernous nerve electrical stimulation in patients with spinal cord injured (SCI) by assessing and measuring complications. As the secondary objectives, despite the limited cohort size, this long-term study aims to obtain preliminary data on efficacy of cavernous nerve stimulation to improve erectile function for sexual intercourse, as well as to assess patient's satisfaction using: - Objective assessment of the erectile response upon CaverSTIM activation with the RigiScan device. - Subjective assessment of the erectile function with validated questionnaires: 1. A 6-item self-report instrument assessing male erectile function (Erectile Function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function, IIEF-EF); 2. A log-diary five item questionnaire completed after each sexual attempt (Sexual Encounter Profile, SEP); 3. A self-reporting measure that scores erection hardness on a 4-point scale (Erection Hardness Score, EHS); 4. The Global Assessment Question (GAQ). In addition, the study aims to refine the method of implantation (step-by-step delineation of all technical approaches for device implantation, including duration of surgical procedure, blood loss, methods to access the periprostatic region, tissue dissection, device placement and fixation) prior to planning for larger scale clinical investigation.
The primary objective of this study is to gather information about the effectiveness of abdominal FES to improve bowel management time (BMT) for people with chronic SCI. This study will also evaluate whether abdominal FES can improve: 1) bowel-related quality of life, 2) participant-reported bowel function, 3) bowel management strategy, 4) bladder symptoms, and 5) unplanned hospital admissions. In addition, we will also explore participant perspectives and experiences about the stimulation sessions and use of the device.
Assessing the sacral nerves is an integral aspect of the evaluation after a spinal cord injury. Being located at the lower end of the spinal cord, the sacral nerves reflect how signals travel through the injured spinal cord. Sacral assessment is therefore essential to determine the level and severity of the spinal cord injury, which helps selecting the proper treatment and predicting recovery (worse when abnormal sacral function. The current assessment relies solely on a manual evaluation, which depends heavily on the physician's experience and does not provide any quantitative value of the dysfunction. The lack of a quantitative method adapted to the clinical setting is a major barrier limiting our knowledge on the impact of sacral function on recovery. We have recently developed an electrophysiological method providing quantitative sacral assessment at bedside after spinal cord injuries. Using this method, we will quantify sacral function in 250 patients with acute spinal cord injuries, and determine its association with recovery 6 months post-injury. We hypothesize that sacral function assessed early within the first 6 weeks after the injury with our method is associated with a better 6-month recovery of motor, sensory, bowel and bladder function. Our objectives are to assess the changes is sacral function during the first 6 months after the injury, and the relationship between early sacral function and 6-month recovery. Sacral function and recovery will be assessed up to 6 months post-injury by the attending physician, in order to measure the electromyographic magnitude of voluntary anal contraction, electromyographic magnitude of anal contraction elicited through sacral reflex testing, and minimal electrical stimulation for which anal sensation is present. The analysis will determine if and how sacral function evolves in time, and if there are specific quantitative criteria of sacral function that physicians can use to determine if patient will have a favorable recovery.
The purpose of this study is to determine if playing a virtual reality walking game can help improve neuropathic pain in adults with incomplete spinal cord injury.
The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effectiveness of FES cycling in terms of changes morpho-functional characteristics of the leg muscles, training performance and bone trophism in 5 subjects with Spinal Cord Injury after 6 months of training. The main question[s] it aims to answer are: - Do the morpho-functional characteristics of the leg muscles improve after 3 and 6 months of training with FES cycling? If any, the morpho-functional improvements are maintained one month after the end of the training? - Does the quality of the leg bones improve after 3 and 6 months of training with FES cycling? - Does the training performance improve during the training with FES cycling? - Do the data referred to the vegetative nervous system change after 3 and 6 months of training with FES cycling? If yes, the changes in the vegetative nervous system are maintained one month after the end of the training? - Does the intestinal function change after 3 and 6 months of training with FES cycling? If yes, the changes are maintained one month after the end of the training? - Does the level of spasticity of the lower limbs change after 3 and 6 months of training with FES cycling? If yes, the changes are maintained one month after the end of the training? - Does the level of pain perceived by pilots change after 3 and 6 months of training with FES cycling? If yes, the changes are maintained one month after the end of the training? - Does the Psychological General Well-Being of the pilots change after 3 and 6 months of training with FES cycling? If yes, the changes are maintained one month after the end of the training? - Does the pilots' motivation in carrying out a sporting activity change between T1 (3 months after starting the training) and T2(6 months after starting the training)? Participants will train for 6 months with FES-cycling twice a week. Each session includes at most 30 minutes of stimulation.
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) have a devastating effect not only on individuals incurring the life changing event, but also on those who are involved in their care. Family care-partners of those with SCI (fcSCI) may experience significant negative effects including impaired mental health, high levels of burden, poor adjustment to role, decreased quality of life and strain on relationships. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment strategy that helps individuals recognize and challenge their unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that contribute to their mental health concerns. However, barriers such as availability to specialized care, costs, rural and remote location, or concerns about stigma may limit access to care. Internet delivered CBT (ICBT) has the potential to reach a much wider group of people that may have unequal access to health care. In a previous feasibility study, the team demonstrated the preliminary effectiveness of a tailored ICBT Wellbeing program for fcSCI. However, our understanding of which components of the program can result in optimal management is limited. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of different components of the Wellbeing program including: therapist guidance, peer support groups, and booster sessions on symptoms of depression among fcSCI. The team will evaluate which intervention components result in meaningful improvement in symptoms of depression. Through collaborations with SCI community organizations and rehabilitation institutions, participants will be recruited across Canada. The researchers will also develop a model to examine the most cost-effective intervention package from the different components. The Wellbeing for fcSCI program can provide personalized service to individuals while being flexible and easily accessible, improving overall wellbeing and access to health care services.