Restoring Hand Function Utilizing Nerve Transfers in Persons With Cervical Spinal Cord Injuries

Surgery
Arm/hand function
Online since 3 November 2021, updated 1129 days ago

About this trial

This trial is recruiting individuals with cervical (neck area) spinal cord injuries to test the safety and effect of nerve transfer surgery for restoring hand function. If included in the study, participants will undergo nerve transfer surgery, which identifies an intact peripheral nerve in the arm and reroutes it to a target muscle that has significant weakness or paralysis due to SCI. After allowing time for recovery from surgery and for nerve growth to occur, participants will receive hand/occupational therapy in order to retrain motor skills. Arm and hand strength, sensation and grip functions will be measured at 2 weeks, and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.

Included participants

Gender
All
Age
18 - 65 years
Injury level
C1 - C8
  • Severity (AIS)?
  • AIS-A
    AIS-B
    AIS-C
    Time since injury
    6 months - 65 years
  • Injury type
  • Traumatic

    Non-traumatic

    Healthy volunteers
    No
    C1-C8
    Additionally, participants must
    have a cervical SCI resulting in arm & hand functional impairment, with at least preserved elbow flexion.
    have an International Classification of Surgery of the Hand in Tetraplegia (ICSHT) category 0-4.

    What’s involved

    Type

    Surgery

    Details

    The participants will undergo nerve transfer surgery and a hand/occupational therapy in order to retain motor skills. The participation in periodic outcome measurement examination is over the course of 24 months.

    Potential benefits

    Main benefits

    Arm/hand function

    Additional benefits

    General health

    Sensory function

    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
    • Ended
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Apr 2018
    • Organisation
    • The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
    • Trial recruitment status
    • Ended
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Apr 2018
    • Organisation
    • The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

    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