Spinal Cord Injury
Conditions
Brief summary
Today there is accumulating evidence from animal experiments that regeneration can be induced after a spinal cord injury (SCI). Consequently in the near future, new therapeutic approaches to induce some regeneration will be included in the treatment of patients with SCI. The aim of this proposal is to provide the required clinical basis for the implementation of novel interventional therapies. The establishment of combined clinical, functional and neurophysiological measures for a qualitative and quantitative assessment of spinal cord function in patients with SCI at different stages during rehabilitation represents a basic requirement to monitor any significant effect of a new treatment. Therefore, several European Paraplegic Centres involved in the rehabilitation of acute traumatic SCI patients build up a close collaboration for standardised assessment. The aim is to get knowledge about the natural recovery after spinal cord lesion in a larger population of patients in the sense of a historical control group and to bring new standardised assessment tools to the clinical setting.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
University of Zurich
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Single event traumatic or ischemic para- or tetraplegia * First EMSCI assessment possible within the first 6 weeks after incidence * Patient capable and willing of giving written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* Nontraumatic para- or tetraplegia (i.e. discusprolaps, tumor, AV-malformation, myelitis) excl. single event ischemic incidences * Pre-known dementia or severe reduction of intelligence, leading to reduced capabilities of cooperation or giving consent * Peripheral nerve lesions above the level of lesion (i.e. plexus brachialis impairment) * Pre-known polyneuropathy * Severe craniocerebral injury
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI) | Change in course from 2 weeks at 48 weeks | Score from 0 to 20; the higher the score, the better the walking ability of the patient |
| 10 Meter Walk Test (10mWT) | Change in course from 2 weeks at 48 weeks | — |
| Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) | Change in course from 2 weeks at 48 weeks | Score from 0 to 100 points; the higher the score, the higher the independence of the patient |
| International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI score) | Change in course from 2 weeks at 48 weeks | Score from 0 to 112; the higher the score, the better the neurological status of the patient |
Countries
Switzerland
Contacts
Primary ContactArmin Curt, Prof., MD
Backup ContactMartin Schubert, MD
Outcome results
None listed