View clinical trials related to Spinal Cord Injuries.
Filter by:This study seeks to test the safety and efficacy of the Esko device in SCI population and in populations with similar neurological weakness to the SCI population. The device can currently stand from a seated position, walk, and turn and sit down. Our hypothesis are as follows: - Hypothesis 1: We hypothesize that the Ekso subject will significantly improve balance while wearing the device as noted by subject's ability to safely achieve standing balance for 30 sec without loss of balance. - Hypothesis 2: We hypothesize that the Ekso subject will display improved ability to safely ambulate 10 meters to be assessed using the 10 meter walk test. - Hypothesis 3: We hypothesize that the Ekso subject will display improved weight shift in both static and dynamic activities as determined by a trained physical therapist. - Hypothesis 4: We hypothesize that the Ekso subject will verbalize improved success with training of the device as noted by subjective questionnaires that will be assessed following each training session.
People with tetraplegia often retain some level of mobility of the upper body. The proposed study will test the hypothesis that it is possible to develop personalized interfaces, which utilize the residual mobility to enable paralyzed persons to control computers, wheelchairs and other assistive devices. If successful the project will result into the establishment of a new family of human-machine interfaces based on wearable sensors that adapt their functions to their users' abilities.
Atrogin-1 and muscle RING finger-1 are skeletal muscle specific genes, with ubiquitin ligase activities, that are upregulated during muscle atrophy in mice. The Akt/GSK3 and Akt/mTOR pathways are involved in muscle hypertrophy in mice. Recent studies by the investigators team and others have demonstrated the implication of these signalling pathways in the control of muscle mass in humans. However no study has yet investigated the involvement of these systems in the early stages of spinal cord injury induced human skeletal muscle atrophy. The investigators propose to investigate the level of expression of the different components of the ubiquitin-proteasome system together with the level of expression and activity of the Akt/mTOR and Akt/GSK3 signalling pathways after SCI in humans during the first months following the injury. A second aim of this project is to assess if a novel apparatus of electrical stimulation which generate movements by closed-loop electrical muscle stimulation may improve strength and muscle mass in these patients. The patients will be recruited jointly at the Clinique Romande de Réadaptation (CRR) in Sion and the Swiss paraplegic centre in Nottwil. They will be randomly divided into two groups, a first group of patients will undergo a conventional treatment of rehabilitation while a second set of patients will be treated using a brand new system of electro-stimulation called MotionMaker TM. Biopsies will be obtained in the first weeks after admission; two other biopsies will be taken respectively 3 and 6 months post-lesion. Our results will provide an increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms contributing to skeletal muscle atrophy during the early stages following SCI and a characterization of the impact of endurance training in the no more voluntary innervated muscle. Moreover this study will also investigate the potential improvement in the rehabilitation process by using a new system of electro-stimulation.
To determine the acute and chronic effects of a short course of treatment on spinal cord injured (SCI) individuals with either an anticholinergic agent (tiotropium) or with a β₂ agonist (Salmeterol) on: - Fraction of expired NO (FeNO) - Selected Biomarkers of inflammation in exhaled breath condensates (EBC) - Pulmonary function, as measured by pulmonary function tests and body plethysmography
Individuals with chronic cervical SCI are known to have a restrictive ventilatory defect due to complete or partial loss of respiratory muscle innervation which is dependent upon the level and completeness of injury [2]. In addition, they share many aspects of obstructive airway physiology commonly associated with asthma. In asthma, physiological responses such as decrease in baseline airway caliber, bronchodilatation following inhalation of a beta-2-adrenergic agonist or anticholinergic agent, airway hyperreactivity, are all closely related to airway inflammation. The cause of such inflammation is unclear, and may be multi-factorial and attributable to: recurrent respiratory infections due to inability to effectively clear secretions, unopposed parasymphathetic innervation, and loss of functional sympathetic innervation to the airways. Therefore, the investigators propose to test for the possible involvement the above mechanisms by pharmacological intervention, and to study effects of such intervention on overall pulmonary function and indirect measures of pulmonary inflammation: levels of FeNO, exhaled breath condensate (EBC) inflammatory biomarker profile, pulmonary function tests, and cellular profile of the induced sputum.
The investigators propose to compare plasma protein profiles for SCI patients with/without chronic neuropathic pain in order identify biomarker(s) that are associated with this medical condition. Secondly, the investigators propose to identify a temporal relationship to initial SCI at which these biomarkers manifest. Our working hypothesis is that sustained alterations in specific inflammatory molecules are associated with chronic neuropathic pain following SCI, and that their plasma levels can serve as biomarkers to identify patients at risk for the development of neuropathic pain. Additionally the investigators are collecting skin tissue biopsy samples from patients following acute and chronic spinal cord injury to create vector-free human iPS cells from fibroblasts by direct delivery of reprogramming proteins.
The purpose of the study is to determine whether or not a brief psychological treatment called cognitive behaviour therapy will help people who have suffered a spinal cord injury to cope better with their current circumstances.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an implanted stimulator and sensor for providing hand and arm function for individuals with cervical level spinal cord injury.
ABSTRACT/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND, SIGNIFICANCE & RATIONALE: Between 10-20% of the more than 6000 cases of spinal cord injury seen annually in the North America have the clinical pattern of traumatic central cord syndrome (TCCS). These patients are usually older, most likely have sustained a fall, and have incomplete spinal cord injury characterized by dysesthetic and weak upper extremities. CT scan of the cervical spine in patients with TCCS often shows disc/osteophytes complex superimposed on degenerative or congenital spinal stenosis and MRI reveals signal changes at one or multiple skeletal segments. A minority of these patients suffer from fracture/subluxations, however, this group of patients are younger and have been involved in a more dynamic trauma. Since 1951, when Schneider et al reported this syndrome, controversy has dominated its surgical management. The current "Guidelines for the Management of Acute Cervical Spine and Spinal Cord Injuries" recommendations are only at the level of options, since prospective outcome data are unavailable. HYPOTHESIS: in acute traumatic central cord syndrome, surgical decompression of the spinal cord within five days will result in more rapid motor recovery, than decompression 6 weeks following injury. To test this hypothesis, we will pursue the following specific aims: SPECIFIC AIM I: To compare American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Motor Scores after three months post injury in patients with central cord syndrome operated on within five days of injury to a similar group of patients operated on 6 weeks following injury. SPECIFIC AIM II: To compare functional outcome, health related quality of life and posttraumatic syrinx size in patients with traumatic central cord syndrome operated on within five days to a similar group of patients operated on 6 weeks following injury. DESIGN: Single center prospective randomized study. PROCEDURE: In a two-year period thirty patients with traumatic central cord syndrome and cord compression (15 patients in each group) will be randomized to undergo surgical decompression either within the first five days or at 6 weeks following spinal cord injury. ASIA motor, functional recovery and health related quality of life between the two groups will be compared at admission, discharge from rehab facility 3 months and 12 months after surgery.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether full-time high dose prophylactic bracing (23 hours or more per day) is more effective than low dose bracing (12 hours or less per day) in preventing or delaying spinal curve progression in children with scoliosis after spinal cord injury.