NCT05024409

Cerebral Palsy Upper Extremity Orthotic Device

Use of Low Cost Orthotic Device to Improve Upper Extremity Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 36 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Upper extremity therapies for children with cerebral palsy (CP) have been validated for improving function in higher functioning patients. Those who function at the lowest end of the scale, on the Manual Ability Classification System scale (MACS) III-V, comprise 34-54% of the population, but as yet have no evidence-based interventions specific to their needs. Lower functioning children often retain some voluntary control of the elbow in spite of limited finger motion. A dynamic splint, or exoskeleton, could utilize the tenodesis effect from elbow motion to drive finger release while retaining flexor tone for grasp, potentially creating a portable, home-based therapeutic tool. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of an upper extremity orthotic device in improving the upper extremity function of children with cerebral palsy who have limited use of their hands.

Conditions

• Cerebral Palsy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Upper Extremity Orthotic	3D printed orthotic which uses elbow motion to facilitate finger extension
OTHER	Occupational Therapy	6 weekly sessions of occupational therapy, without use of an assistive orthotic device

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-01-01
• Primary completion: 2025-09-01
• Completion: 2025-12-01
• First posted: 2021-08-27
• Last updated: 2023-12-26

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States