Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and Reconstructive Tetraplegia Hand and Arm Surgery

Technology
Arm/hand function
Online since 3 November 2021, updated 896 days ago

About this trial

This rehabilitation trial is recruiting individuals with spinal cord injuries to test the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) of hand and arm muscles before and after tendon transfer surgery. Researchers want to see if FES impacts arm and/or hand movement after the surgery. All participants will have tendon transfer surgery, then will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Participants will either have electrodes placed on the skin to stimulate nerves or muscles 3 times a week for 30 minutes before and after surgery, or will receive standard rehabilitation therapies after surgery with no FES.

Included participants

Gender
All
Age
≥ 18 years
Injury level
C4 - T1
  • Severity (AIS)?
  • AIS-A
    AIS-B
    AIS-C
    AIS-D
    Time since injury
    ≥ 6 months
  • Injury type
  • Traumatic

    Non-traumatic

    Ischemia

    Stenosis

    Spondylosis

    Healthy volunteers
    No
    C4-T1
    Additionally, participants must
    have a planned reconstructive hand or arm surgery.

    What’s involved

    Type

    Technology

    Details

    The treatment group will receive FES to hand and arm muscles for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, before the surgery, FES in combination with standard rehabilitation for 40 min a day after the surgery. The control group will receive standard rehabilitation for 40 min a day after the surgery. Testing session 12 weeks, 2 weeks, and 1 day before the surgery as well as 4 and 16 weeks after the surgery.

    Potential benefits

    Main benefits

    Arm/hand function

    Additional benefits

    General health

    Standing/walking/mobility

    Good to know: Potential benefits are defined as outcomes that are being measured during and/or after the trial.

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more

    • Trial recruitment status
    • Recruiting
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Mar 2017
    • Organisation
    • Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil
    • Trial recruitment status
    • Recruiting
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Mar 2017
    • Organisation
    • Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more