Proprioceptive Deficits in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

NCT ID: NCT05183971

Last Updated: 2024-07-11

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 100 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-09-01
• Study Completion Date: 2036-09-30

Brief Summary

Proprioceptive deficits in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a progressive neurological deficits in somatosensory and motor function which affects the body balance and motor control. DCM usually presents with body incoordination, hand clumsiness and gait disturbance associated with proprioceptive dysfunction that hinders the physical performance and functions. In this study, a non-invasive assessment protocol on proprioception will be developed for detecting subtle proprioceptive deficits at the early stage of disease through simple Physical Performance Tests for population older than 45. By adopting the physical performance tests as the diagnostic predictors of DCM, we aim to avoid the development of devastating consequences and disabilities.

Detailed Description

DCM is a chronic insidious disease, one of the most disabling orthopaedic conditions, which involves compression of the spinal cord by the surrounding structures in cervical spinal region. It characterizes with progressive neurological deficits in body coordination, hand clumsiness and gait disturbance as the preliminary symptom which may cause by proprioceptive dysfunction .

Physical performance and function hinder patients' hand clumsiness, gait disturbance and body imbalance. The incoordination between body, upper limbs and lower limbs will be resulted from proprioceptive deficits caused by spinal cord compression. By adopting the Proprioceptive Functional Analysis System (PFAS), proprioceptive deficits over the core body joints and peripheral joints could be tested during Activity of Daily Living (ADL) with reference to normal subjects' performance. All subjects will be tested by the PFAS and Physical Performance Tests.

The idea of regional proprioceptive deficit will be incorporated in the assessment protocol for DCM to facilitates a breakthrough from the traditional DCM functional evaluation.

In developing a non-invasive assessment protocol to assess proprioceptive deficit, we aim to detect subtle proprioceptive deficit from the tests, especially at the very early stage of disease. We target to demonstrate the validity of Physical Performance Tests are evenly high as that of the advanced technology, PFAS.

Consequently, by adopting the valid Physical Performance Tests in health screening scheme for population older than 45 within the community can serve as an early diagnostic parameter of DCM and avoid delayed treatment leading to devastating consequences and disabilities.

Conditions

Cervical Myelopathy

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

(1) Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

Chinese subjects aged 50 or above who have radiological evidence of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, symptomatic with Nurick Grade less than 3 will be included.

Proprioceptive Functional Analysis System

Intervention Type: OTHER

Proprioceptive testing and Physical Performance Tests

(2) Healthy Controls

Chinese healthy controls aged 50 or above who have no myelopathic signs of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy with Nurick Grade less than 3 will be included.

Proprioceptive Functional Analysis System

Intervention Type: OTHER

Proprioceptive testing and Physical Performance Tests

Interventions

Proprioceptive Functional Analysis System

Proprioceptive testing and Physical Performance Tests

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Chinese
• Aged 50 or above
• With radiological evidence of degenerative cervical myelopathy, both symptomatic and asymptomatic
• Nurick grade less than 3

Exclusion Criteria

• Non-Chinese ethnicity
• Aged under 50
• without any radiological proof of cervical myelopathy
• Active problems of tuberculosis spine, lumbar spinal diseases, and other problems causing pain or deformities over the limbs that may affect their balance and movement
• Presents with extra-pyramidal or other disorders involving the cerebellum or frontal lobe of the cerebrum leading to poor balance and gait disturbance
• Previous spinal operation with residual disturbance in balance or gait
• Non-communicable patients with insufficient cognitive ability to express their symptoms clearly
• Non-walker
• Blind or deaf

• Minimum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

The University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Karlen Ka Pui Law, M. Phil

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Hong Kong

Locations

The Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital at Sandy Bay

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Hong Kong

Central Contacts

Karlen Ka Pui Law, M. Phil

Role: CONTACT

karlenhk@connect.com.hk

852-29740531

Facility Contacts

Karlen Ka Pui Law, M. Phil

Role: primary

karlenhk@connect.hku.hk

852-29740531

Other Identifiers

UW 20-746

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id