NCT06808035

Understanding Perinatal Spinal Cord Injury

Understanding Perinatal Spinal Cord Injury: Comprehensive Assessment and Personalized Neuromodulation for Improved Whole-Body Functions

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 6 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Louisville · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 3 Years – 8 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to deepen our understanding of children who have a cervical spinal cord injury obtained in utero or at birth and examine the effects of tailored activity-based recovery training (ABRT) in combination with transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (scTS). This is a within subjects, pre-post design study. Neurophysiological, sensorimotor, and autonomic assessments will occur pre, interim, and post 40 sessions of ABRT in conjunction with scTs.

Detailed description

Infants who suffer perinatal spinal cord injuries (SCI) are injured during a critical period of neurological development. Confounded further by on-going development, they are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of SCI (e.g., paralysis and paresis, hypertonia, bladder/bowel dysfunction, respiratory compromise) on lifelong health, function, and quality of life. There are only 4 published case reports of the presentation and rehabilitation of perinatally injured children. Clinically, children with high cervical SCI compared to those with low level SCI exhibit slow and limited active upper and lower extremity (UE, LE) movements, high tone, and poor trunk control. Children with low cervical lesions have a more typical pattern of loss below the injury level. We intend to expand our understanding of the scope of perinatal SCI and its impact in order to address integrated, whole-body system rehabilitation. The overall objective of this study is to deepen our understanding of pediatric perinatal cervical SCIs and then formulate tailored treatment strategies that encourage neuroplasticity, enhance functional capacity, and improve the overall quality of life of children. The results from this study will provide pilot data and evidence that we can comprehensively assess and develop a therapeutic roadmap to improve whole-body function in children with perinatal SCI. This is a pilot, within subjects, repeated measures, pre-post design. Aim 1: Investigate the impact of perinatal, cervical SCI comparing high (C2-3) and low (C4-6) injuries on a whole-body profile of health: neurophysiological, sensorimotor, autonomic. Aim 2: In children with perinatal SCIs, investigate the effect of 40 sessions of tailored transcutaneous spinal stimulation (scTS) paired with activity-based restorative therapies (ABRTs) on neurophysiological profile (spinal pathway functional integrity) and sensorimotor function. Aim 3: In children with chronic, cervical, perinatal SCIs, investigate the effect of 40 sessions of scTS paired with ABRT on autonomic functions, i.e., respiratory, blood pressure regulation, bladder/bowel.

Conditions

• Perinatal Spinal Cord Injury

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Activity-Based Recovery Training	ABRT uses task-specific training to improve neuromuscular capacity. ABRT will be tailored to participant presentation. Activity-Based Locomotor Training consists of stepping, standing, and sitting activities on a body weight support (BWS) treadmill using a harness and while overground. Therapists and trainers provide hands-on assistance for safety and kinematics. BWS is varied during sessions with a goal of optimal kinematics at the lowest BWS. Activities performed standing will focus on alignment incorporating static, active, and dynamic tasks. Activities performed during overground are based on neuromuscular capacity and appropriate developmental and functional levels. Principles of ABRT will be shared with parents/caregivers to foster activity in the home and community. Activity-Based Upper Extremity Training uses task-specific training of the trunk and upper extremities administered in sitting or standing via manual facilitation or support in a stander for best posture.
DEVICE	Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation	Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (scTs) is a non-invasive stimulation administered over the skin using a modulated biphasic or monophasic waveform at 15-90Hz and a carrier frequency of 5-10kHz. Bouts of scTs at the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and/or coccygeal level will be administered midline or just lateral to the spinous processes during activity-based recovery training.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-01-09
• Primary completion: 2027-01-01
• Completion: 2027-01-01
• First posted: 2025-02-05
• Last updated: 2025-02-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated device study