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Spinal Cord InjuriesNCT04586777

Effects of Transvertebral Direct Current Stimulation in Humans

A study testing transvertebral direct current stimulation (tvDCS) in people with Spinal Cord Injuries and Paraplegia and Tetraplegia, run by University of Kentucky at 1 site in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study will evaluate the effects of non-invasive stimulation of the spinal cord in people with spinal cord injury. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
What is being tested?
transvertebral direct current stimulation (tvDCS)
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
27 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
15 Jan 2014to 8 Jan 2021
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 18 to 65 years of age
  • Motor incomplete spinal cord injury classified as B, C, or D by the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS)
  • More than 12 months post-injury
  • Lesion at of above thoracic level T8
  • Body mass index <30 (in order to facilitate reliable location of body landmarks guiding stimulation)
  • Severe gait deficit

Who cannot join

  • Unstable cardiopulmonary conditions
  • History of seizure, head injury with loss of consciousness, severe alcohol or drug abuse, and/or psychiatric illness
  • Cognitive deficits severe enough to preclude informed consent
  • Positive pregnancy test of being of childbearing age and not using appropriate contraception
  • Ferromagnetic material in the brain or in the spine (except for titanium for segmental fixation of the spine)
  • Cardiac or neural pacemakers
Show all 12Show fewer
  • Fixed contractures in the lower extremities
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Severe osteoporosis
  • Severe spasticity
  • Decubitus ulcers which interfere with harness support or walking
  • Severe orthostatic hypotension

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Kentucky at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital

    Lexington, Kentucky, 40504

Other trials in United States

About this study

This study will evaluate the effects of non-invasive stimulation of the spinal cord in people with spinal cord injury.

Read the detailed description

This study will use a non-invasive form of spinal stimulation, called transvertebral direct current stimulation, or tvDCS. It currently is not clear what effects this type of stimulation has on the excitability of the brain and spinal cord in people with spinal cord injury. In this study, subjects will participate in 3 sessions, with at least 1 week in between sessions, during which they will get a different condition of tvDCS. We will test the excitability of the brain and spinal cord before and after tvDCS in each session.

Being tested
transvertebral direct current stimulation (tvDCS)
Keywords
neuroplasticity, transvertebral direct current stimulation, transspinal direct current stimulation
Medical subject headings
Spinal Cord Injuries, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • transvertebral direct current stimulation (tvDCS)Device

    tvDCS is a painless, non-invasive form of spinal stimulation which delivers safe, low levels of electrical current to the spinal cord through the back. It is believed to be able to influence the excitability of the brain and spinal cord.

Study groups in NCT04586777
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Anodal tvDCSExperimental20 minutes of anodal tvDCS will be applied over the spine at 2.5mA.
Receives: Device: transvertebral direct current stimulation (tvDCS)
Cathodal tvDCSExperimental20 minutes of cathodal tvDCS will be applied over the spine at 2.5mA.
Receives: Device: transvertebral direct current stimulation (tvDCS)
Sham tvDCSSham comparator20 minutes of sham tvDCS will be applied over the spine.
Receives: Device: transvertebral direct current stimulation (tvDCS)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in corticospinal excitability

    This will be measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation to evoke responses in muscles of the lower leg.

    Measured: Immediately before tvDCS, Immediately after tvDCS

  2. Change in spinal cord excitability

    Hoffmann's reflex will be used to assess spinal cord excitability. For this text, pulses of electrical stimulation will be applied to the back of the knee and the response will be measured from the calf muscle.

    Measured: Immediately before tvDCS, Immediately after tvDCS

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Oct 2020
  2. Study start15 Jan 2014
  3. Primary completion8 Jan 2021
  4. Study completion8 Jan 2021

Why it stopped: Relocation of PI

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
27 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04586777
Sponsor's protocol ID
44067
Status last verified
Jan 2021
First submitted
29 Sep 2020
Last updated
15 Jan 2021
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing transvertebral direct current stimulation (tvDCS) in people with Spinal Cord Injuries and Paraplegia and Tetraplegia, run by University of Kentucky at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Jan 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study was stopped early (reason given: Relocation of PI). Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in corticospinal excitability (time frame: Immediately before tvDCS, Immediately after tvDCS). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Jan 2021.

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