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Nerve Transfer Surgery to Restore Upper-limb Function After Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal Cord Injury | Upper Extremity Paresis | Tetraplegia | Upper Extremity Dysfunction | SCI - Spinal Cord...

The goal of this prospective, open label cohort study is to assess functional and motor outcomes in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury who have undergone nerve transfer surgery, with the goal of increasing upper limb function. We will also compare these outcomes to a cohort of similarly matched individuals who have not undergone nerve transfer surgery, using robust outcome measures, rigorous pre-operative clinical and neurophysiological assessments, and standardized rehabilitation. At the end of this project we aim to develop a model for predicting nerve transfer outcomes using pre-operative clinical and neurophysiological characteristics.

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Participation Requirements

  • Sex:

    ALL

  • Eligible Ages:

    18 to 70

Participation Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Motor complete (AIS A or B) between neurological level of injury C5 and C8
* Able to provide informed written consent
* Able to attend and comply with the testing protocols
* Able to understand and speak English or have access to an appropriate interpreter as judged by the investigator.

Exclusion Criteria:

* An uncontrolled medical condition (e.g. uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney or liver disease)
* Have ever received botulinum toxin injections (Botox) for tone management in the upper limb
* An unmanaged secondary complication of SCI including but not limited to uncontrolled neuropathic pain or spasticity, syringomyelia, fracture, urinary tract infection or significant pressure ulcer, preventing participation in testing

Study Location

GF Strong Rehabilitation Hospital
GF Strong Rehabilitation Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada

Contact Study Team

Primary Contact

Harvey Wu, MD

[email protected]
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

Contact Study Team

Primary Contact

Jana Dengler, MD, MASc

QEII Health Sciences Centre
QEII Health Sciences Centre
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada

Contact Study Team

Primary Contact

Emily Krauss

Kingston Health Sciences Centre
Kingston Health Sciences Centre
Kingston, Ontario
Canada

Contact Study Team

Primary Contact

Michael Hendry, MD, MSc

Study Sponsored By
University of British Columbia
Participants Required
More Information
Study ID: NCT05638191