Cerebral Reorganization in Cervical Myelopathy Measured by Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

NCT ID: NCT03312608

Last Updated: 2017-10-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Total Enrollment

160 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-01-01

Study Completion Date

2023-02-01

Brief Summary

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In degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) the dynamics of disease progression and the outcome after surgical decompression vary inter individually and do not necessarily correlate with radiological findings. By better characterization of the underlying pathophysiology this study aims to improve diagnostic power in DCM using Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS).

Detailed Description

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120 patients with DCM due to cervical spinal canal stenosis will be examined preoperatively and postoperatively with nTMS. On the basis of the initial Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) Score two patient groups will be established (JOA≤12/\>12). The resting motor threshold, recruitment curve, cortical silent period and motor area will be determined. Accordingly, 40 healthy subjects will be examined.

To the investigators knowledge, this study is the first to analyze changes of corticospinal excitability and reorganization in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy with navigated TMS. In the present study, there was a significant difference in parameters of excitability and motor area activation between the severely symptomatic and clinically stable patient group. The investigators analysis showed that chronic CSM induces a recruitment of the non-primary motor area and corticospinal disinhibition, so that axonal damage can be compensated through recruitment of new cortical and supplementary motor connections, to a certain degree. Upon exhaustion of these mechanisms further axonal damage translates directly into new neurological deficits. These results lay the ground for a novel concept in CSM, the "corticospinal reserve capacity".

This study lays the foundation for future research to examine the pathomechanisms in CSM. Functional reorganization occurs on a spinal as well as on a cortical level. The concept of the corticospinal reseve capacity describes a compensatory, increased recruitment of non primary motor areas and corticospinal disinhibition in order to preserve motor function. By detecting the degree of reorganization, a stratification for an unfavourable as well as stable clinical course could be made. This innovative approach to describe the pathomechanisms in CSM might revise current concepts of clinical diagnostics and might have an impact on future treatment strategies.

Conditions

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Degenerative Myelopathy

Keywords

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cerebral reorganization, TMS

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

CASE_CONTROL

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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mild myelopathy (JOA>12)

40 patients (JOA\>12) suffering from symptomatic or asymptomatic degenerative cervical myelopathy scheduled for surgery or conservative treatment. The radiological inclusion criteria are cervical spinal stenosis associated with or without intramedullary high signal intensity lesion on T2-weighted MRI. Exclusion criteria are other pathologies in the vicinity of the corticospinal tract above the lesion site (i.e. tumor, infarction), neuroinflammatory disease, high grade paresis of the upper extremity (BMRC\<3), the existence of a cardiac pacemaker, deep brain stimulation electrodes or pregnancy. By means of navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation the resting motor threshold, recruitment curve, cortical silent period and motor area will be determined.

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

moderate myelopathy

40 patients (JOA≤12) suffering from symptomatic degenerative cervical myelopathy scheduled for surgery (anterior and/ or posterior decompression) or conservative treatment. The radiological inclusion criteria are cervical spinal stenosis associated with or without intramedullary high signal intensity lesion on T2-weighted MRI. Exclusion criteria are other pathologies in the vicinity of the corticospinal tract above the lesion site (i.e. tumor, infarction), neuroinflammatory disease, high grade paresis of the upper extremity (BMRC\<3), the existence of a cardiac pacemaker, deep brain stimulation electrodes or pregnancy. By means of navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation the resting motor threshold, recruitment curve, cortical silent period and motor area will be determined.

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

healthy control

As a control group, 40 subjects will be included into the study. Exclusion criteria and examination protocol are identical with the patient group. By means of navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation the resting motor threshold, recruitment curve, cortical silent period and motor area will be determined.

Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Interventions

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Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* healthy subjects without any neurological disease
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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German Spine Society (Deutsche Wirbelsäulenstiftung)

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University Hospital of Cologne

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University Hospital Munich

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Anna Zdunczyk

principal investigator, physician

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Anna Zdunczyk, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Locations

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Department of neurosurgery Charité

Berlin, , Germany

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Germany

Central Contacts

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Anna Zdunczyk, M.D.

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 004930450660193

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Anna Zdunczyk, M.D.

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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89830535

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id