View clinical trials related to Spinal Cord Injuries.
Filter by:Individuals with acute cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) can suffer from an excessive and prolonged fall in blood pressure when assuming an upright position, such as transitioning from lying to sitting or standing, a condition also known as orthostatic hypotension (OH). Due to a decrease in cerebral oxygenation, affected individuals can develop debilitating symptoms including lightheadedness, blurred vision, fatigue and even loss of consciousness. Recent evidence suggests that OH has a negative impact on cognition in individuals with SCI. Clinical observations suggest that OH can lead to neurological deterioration in individuals who may otherwise have a stable SCI. The presence of symptomatic OH prevented participation in 43% of physical therapy treatment sessions in a study of individuals with acute SCI despite the use of current treatment options. OH is known to adversely affect health, delay rehabilitation and prolong hospitalization in the acute phase of management of individuals who display it. Our team found OH was present in 41 of 55 (75%) patients with acute cervical SCI at our center in 2004. We plan to research the efficacy of a low-cost, non-invasive device known as transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) to manage OH in individuals with acute cervical SCI. Previous studies have shown that this device is safe to use in individuals with SCI, and has improved blood pressure control in non-SCI individuals. We hypothesize that in individuals with acute cervical SCI and OH, TES intervention will elicit an attenuation of the drop in systolic BP (SBP)in response to orthostatic stress. TES-induced differences will be most pronounced in those individuals with sparing of spinal autonomic pathways
The morbidity of spinal cord injury (SCI) is increasing year by year significantly in China. The methods to treat SCI patients in sequela stage update are poor. Though traditional rehabilitation therapy is the routine method to treat SCI in sequela stage, aiming to improve the neurological disorders of these patients, such as sensory disturbance, dyskinesia, autologous adjustment of blood pressure, dysfunction of urination, defecation and perspiration , etc. What's a pity, the efficacy of the rehabilitation therapy is unsatisfactory. Rehabilitation Therapy can prevent the process of muscle atrophy and joint stiffness. However, it can not repair the damaged nerve function. Studies show that mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can remarkably improve the neurological function of SCI in animals without any severe side effect. In this study, 300 patients will be divided into three groups and the investigators will use mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord to treat 100 SCI patients. They will also follow up 100 patients who only receive rehabilitation and another 100 patients who accept neither stem cell therapy nor rehabilitation. On this basis, the investigators can compare the efficacy of these two treatments.
The project is aimed to develop predictive indices of spinal cord injury severity through the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid of patient collected during acute injury.
To investigate the efficacy of lithium carbonate in the treatment of neuropathic pain of patients with spinal cord injury.
Background: After a traumatic spinal cord injury, a severe bone loss in the paralyzed extremities is observed. This leads to a osteoporosis which is connected to a high fracture risk. Aims: To compare the two measurement methods DEXA and pQCT concerning optimal diagnostics and assessment of fracture risk in subjects with spinal cord injury. Subjects: 250 women and 250 men (ageā„18, any AIS-classification) with an acute or chronic spinal cord injury will be recruited for this study. For a reference group, 500 able-bodied persons will be measured analogously. Methods: Using DEXA-Osteodensitometry, bone parameters of the lumbar vertebral column, proximal femur, distal radius, distal tibia and knee area will be assessed. Additionally, geometric bone parameters of the tibia will be measured by using pQCT. All measurements will be done unilaterally. For the assessment of potential risk factors for reduced bone stiffness after spinal cord injury a questionnaire will be used.
This study will assess whether functional recovery of the hand muscles in patients with spinal cord injury is enhanced when electrical stimulation of the muscles is delivered actively by means of using the electroencephalography wave patterns arising from the patient imagining moving their hand to operate the stimulator. A control group will obtain the electrical stimulation treatment passively by a therapist operating the machine.
The purpose of this study is: (1) to establish assessment techniques (in our laboratory) to identify the functional integrity of long spinal tracts associated with adaptive walking recovery post-spinal cord injury and (2) to preliminary investigate locomotor outcomes associated with an adaptive locomotor training approach post-spinal cord injury.
Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel group study of ultramicronized PEA (Normast)600 mg x 2 daily or corresponding placebo with a week of baseline period followed by 1 x 12 weeks treatment period.
Balneotherapy is a physiotherapy technique which allows patients to work out in a weightless environment and which is often used in patients with spinal cord injury. In normal subjects, water immersion generates a reduction in lung volumes. The effects of water immersion on the respiratory function of spinal cord injury patient (who are liable to present a respiratory failure secondary to paralysis) are not well known. They could be deleterious (by majoring respiratory failure)or beneficial (by mimicking the effect of a corset and improving respiratory function). Therefore, we are planning to study the effect of different water immersion levels on the respiratory function of spinal cord injury patients.
This is an observational longitudinal study designed to identify and describe long term outcomes for patients with high tetraplegia who use a Diaphragmatic Pacing System (DPS). As this is not a randomized or experimental study, no specific hypotheses are proposed. The data collected will enable us to answer the following research questions: 1. What are the patterns of long-term DPS use (hours per day using DPS, changes in DPS stimulus parameters, abandonment of DPS and related reasons). 2. What mechanical problems have DPS users encountered (system failure, repairs needed)? 3. What are the frequency of and reasons for rehospitalization following DPS implant? 4. What levels of care are needed at home to manage the DPS? 5. How do DPS users feel about the system (satisfaction, comfort, vocalization, taste, swallowing)?