Effectiveness of Armeo Spring Pediatric in Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injury

NCT ID: NCT03780322

Last Updated: 2023-11-24

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

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

12 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-12-18

Study Completion Date

2023-07-10

Brief Summary

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The investigators seek to evaluate the effectiveness of Armeo®Spring Pediatric training, as compared to conventional treatment, in improving upper extremity function in children with Narakas I brachial plexus injury, aged 5-8 years, using the Mallet modified scale and passive range of movement, immediately post intervention and at 3 and 6 months´ follow up. The investigators will also monitor the appearance of adverse effects during and post intervention, with a follow up at 3 and 6 months.

Detailed Description

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Obstetric brachial plexus injury is caused by damage of the cervical nerve roots C5-T1 during delivery. It has traditionally been treated with occupational and physical therapy during the first few months, evaluating at 1, 3 and 6 months if primary surgery is required. The goal of primary surgery is to repair the damaged nerve roots and restore neural function. Despite surgery, a large percentage of children will remain with varying degrees of paralysis. Since Narakas I ("Erb's") paralysis is the most common, motor sequelae usually involve limited shoulder abduction, restricted shoulder external rotation and elbow flexion contracture. This sequelae requires ongoing physical and occupational therapy, especially during school age, to ensure adequate upper extremity function and participation.

Armeo Spring Pediatric is a robotic tool that enables upper extremity training using virtual reality. Virtual reality is usually well tolerated and highly motivating to school age children. Since it's a relatively new tool, its effectiveness in the treatment of obstetric brachial plexus injury has not been documented.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Armeo Spring Pediatric training as compared to conventional therapy (occupational and physical therapy), in improving the upper extremity function of children with Narakas I (C5-C6) obstetric brachial plexus injury.

It will study two parallel groups of children ages 5-8. Both groups will receive 45 minute sessions, 3 times a week, for a total of 5 weeks (15 sessions). One group will train upper extremity function using Armeo Spring Pediatric and the other group will receive occupational and physical therapy, as detailed in protocol. They will be reevaluated at 3 and 6 months.

The appearance of adverse events, such as pain, fatigue or muscle contracture, will be documented during intervention, post intervention, and at 3 and 6 months. In the presence of one such adverse event, the training session will be suspended and the patient evaluated by physiatrist or orthopedic surgeon, with treatment if necessary. If the symptoms resolve before the next session, the patient will complete training as planned. If the symptoms are not resolved by the next session, the patient will be removed from the clinical trial until recovery.

Conditions

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Brachial Plexus Neuropathies Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Armeo Spring Pediatric

This group will receive training with Armeo Spring Pediatric in 45 minute sessions, 3 times a week, for a total of 15 sessions

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Armeo Spring Pediatric

Intervention Type DEVICE

Before intervention, the robotic device will be adjusted to the user's unique dimensions to avoid injury.

Each 45 minute session will include active upper extremity shoulder abduction, shoulder external rotation and/or elbow extension exercises, led by virtual reality game and supported by robotic arm. Sessions will take place 3 times a week for a total of 15 sessions.

Conventional physical and occupational therapy

This group will receive combined physical and occupational therapy in 45 minute sessions, 3 times a week, for a total of 15 sessions.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional physical and occupational therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Conventional therapy will combine physical and occupational therapy, including the following activities:

1. Upper extremity weight bearing exercises.
2. Approximation techniques on wrist, elbow and shoulder.
3. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation: shoulder flection, adduction and external rotation and shoulder flection, abduction and external rotation.
4. Scapulothoracic joint mobilization.
5. Stretching of shoulder abductors and external rotators.
6. Hand/wrist facilitation exercises (with ball). This will be carried out in 45 minute sessions, 3 times a week, for a total of 15 sessions.

Interventions

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Armeo Spring Pediatric

Before intervention, the robotic device will be adjusted to the user's unique dimensions to avoid injury.

Each 45 minute session will include active upper extremity shoulder abduction, shoulder external rotation and/or elbow extension exercises, led by virtual reality game and supported by robotic arm. Sessions will take place 3 times a week for a total of 15 sessions.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Conventional physical and occupational therapy

Conventional therapy will combine physical and occupational therapy, including the following activities:

1. Upper extremity weight bearing exercises.
2. Approximation techniques on wrist, elbow and shoulder.
3. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation: shoulder flection, adduction and external rotation and shoulder flection, abduction and external rotation.
4. Scapulothoracic joint mobilization.
5. Stretching of shoulder abductors and external rotators.
6. Hand/wrist facilitation exercises (with ball). This will be carried out in 45 minute sessions, 3 times a week, for a total of 15 sessions.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Ages between 5 and 8 years 11 months at beginning of intervention
* Obstetric brachial plexus injury classified as Narakas I
* Legal guardian signs informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria

* Evident shoulder or elbow dislocation during physical or radiological examination
* Elbow flexion contracture of 40º or more
* Pain during shoulder or elbow manipulation
Minimum Eligible Age

5 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

8 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Sociedad Pro Ayuda del Niño Lisiado

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Leslie Stuardo

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Ines Salas, MD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Sociedad Pro Ayuda del Niño Lisiado

Locations

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Instituto Teleton

Concepción, Región del Biobío, Chile

Site Status

Countries

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Chile

References

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Varas et al, Eventos Adversos Perinatales: Indicadores epidemiológicos, Revista Obstetricia y Ginecología 2008: 3 (2): 117-122.9

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Al-Qattan MM, El-Sayed AA, Al-Zahrani AY, Al-Mutairi SA, Al-Harbi MS, Al-Mutairi AM, Al-Kahtani FS. Narakas classification of obstetric brachial plexus palsy revisited. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2009 Dec;34(6):788-91. doi: 10.1177/1753193409348185. Epub 2009 Sep 28.

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29199193 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type BACKGROUND

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PMID: 25991162 (View on PubMed)

Sladekova N, Kresanek J. Case report of a patient with cerebral palsy using non-robotic equipment for reeducation movements of paretic upper limb. Prz Med Uniw Rzesz Inst Leków 2014;(1):115-118

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Padyšaková H, Repková A, Sládeková N, Žiaková E, Pacek O, Musilová E, Klobucka S. Re-Education Movements of the Paretic Upper Extremity in Children age by Using Non-robotic Equipment. European Journal of Medicine 2015;8(2):106-114

Reference Type BACKGROUND

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Other Identifiers

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ArmeoOBPIConcepcion

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id