Ultrasound Monitoring of Muscle Thickness in Premature Patients
NCT ID: NCT06273202
Last Updated: 2025-08-28
Study Results
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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ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
24 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-02-07
2025-12-31
Brief Summary
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The main questions it aims to answer are:
* To assess by musculoskeletal ultrasound the impact of infant massage on muscle thickness muscle. Specifically, changes in muscle thickness and trophism of the quadriceps femoris.
* Potential effects on spontaneous motility and stature-ponderal growth of infants. In addition, the discomfort and behavioral status of the infant before and after massage will be investigated infant.
Patients included in the study will be randomized according to a random sequence with a 1:1 ratio into theexperimental group (GS) or the control group (GC). Patients in the GS will perform therapy with infant massage in addition to the usual rehabilitation therapies as specified by the program individual habilitative, to which patients in the control group will be subjected exclusively control.
Infant massage will be performed three times a day (10 minutes per session) until they reach the 35th week of post-conceptional age (35+6) by the two departmental physical therapists (ADP and ADV).
Ultrasound will be performed at the time of randomization (T0) and then 1 time per week until the 35th week by two operators (SN and VA); at the same time, the circumference of the thigh subjected to ultrasound examination. A 12Hz linear ultrasound probe will be used, applied perpendicular to the skin. The infant will be placed supine, with the thigh extended, in a neutral position; excessive compression will be avoided by applying a generous amount of gel. At the midpoint of the thigh, the thickness of the quadriceps muscle will be calculated by measuring the distance between the cortex of the femur and the most superficial muscle fascia. The average of at least 2 measurements will be then calculated. The Heckmatt scale will be used to assess the echogenicity of muscle and bone. In addition, at time T0 and at week 35 the following data will be collected: weeks gestational age, weight at birth and at the end of treatment, rectal temperature, blood gas parameters if present.
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Massage
Infants will be randomized to receive infant massage or not. Infant massage will be performed three times a day (10 minutes per session) until they reach the 35th week of post-conceptional age (35+6) by the two departmental physical therapists (ADP and ADV).
Infant Massage
Infant massage will be performed three times a day (10 minutes per session) until they reach the 35th week of post-conceptional age (35+6) by the two departmental physical therapists (ADP and ADV).
Control group (standard care)
Infants in this group will receive standard care.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Infant Massage
Infant massage will be performed three times a day (10 minutes per session) until they reach the 35th week of post-conceptional age (35+6) by the two departmental physical therapists (ADP and ADV).
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* day of life ≥ 7 (to ensure passing the transition phase);
* clinically stable infants, either in spontaneous breathing or ventilatory support invasive or noninvasive, with a good ability to regulate states and good stress management.
Exclusion Criteria
* Dysmorphisms;
* Clinically unstable patients requiring treatment with inotropes and/or nitric oxide nitric acid and/or drug therapy for closure of the ductus arteriosus of Botallo.
28 Weeks
35 Weeks
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Nobile Stefano
Principal investigator
Principal Investigators
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Stefano Nobile, MD, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS
Locations
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Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS
Roma, , Italy
Countries
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References
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Harrison L, Olivet L, Cunningham K, Bodin MB, Hicks C. Effects of gentle human touch on preterm infants: pilot study results. Neonatal Netw. 1996 Mar;15(2):35-42.
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Beachy JM. Premature infant massage in the NICU. Neonatal Netw. 2003 May-Jun;22(3):39-45. doi: 10.1891/0730-0832.22.3.39.
Mrljak R, Arnsteg Danielsson A, Hedov G, Garmy P. Effects of Infant Massage: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 24;19(11):6378. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19116378.
Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M. Preterm infant massage therapy research: a review. Infant Behav Dev. 2010 Apr;33(2):115-24. doi: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2009.12.004.
Pados BF, McGlothen-Bell K. Benefits of Infant Massage for Infants and Parents in the NICU. Nurs Womens Health. 2019 Jun;23(3):265-271. doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2019.03.004. Epub 2019 May 3.
Pozzi N, D'Angelo G, Gitto E; Gruppo di Studio Terapia Intensiva della Prima Infanzia della SIN. Why is "early childhood intensive care" an Italian association of neonatology study group? Ital J Pediatr. 2019 Mar 6;45(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s13052-019-0626-x.
van Alfen N, Gijsbertse K, de Korte CL. How useful is muscle ultrasound in the diagnostic workup of neuromuscular diseases? Curr Opin Neurol. 2018 Oct;31(5):568-574. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000000589.
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Einspieler C, Prechtl HF. Prechtl's assessment of general movements: a diagnostic tool for the functional assessment of the young nervous system. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2005;11(1):61-7. doi: 10.1002/mrdd.20051.
Valla FV, Young DK, Rabilloud M, Periasami U, John M, Baudin F, Vuillerot C, Portefaix A, White D, Ridout JA, Meyer R, Gaillard Le Roux B, Javouhey E, Pathan N. Thigh Ultrasound Monitoring Identifies Decreases in Quadriceps Femoris Thickness as a Frequent Observation in Critically Ill Children. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2017 Aug;18(8):e339-e347. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000001235.
de Figueiredo RS, Nogueira RJN, Springer AMM, Melro EC, Campos NB, Batalha RE, Brandao MB, de Souza TH. Sarcopenia in critically ill children: A bedside assessment using point-of-care ultrasound and anthropometry. Clin Nutr. 2021 Aug;40(8):4871-4877. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.07.014. Epub 2021 Jul 21.
Morgan ME, Kukora S, Nemshak M, Shuman CJ. Neonatal Pain, Agitation, and Sedation Scale's use, reliability, and validity: a systematic review. J Perinatol. 2020 Dec;40(12):1753-1763. doi: 10.1038/s41372-020-00840-7. Epub 2020 Oct 2.
Klawitter F, Walter U, Patejdl R, Endler J, Reuter DA, Ehler J. Sonographic Evaluation of Muscle Echogenicity for the Detection of Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness: A Pilot Single-Center Prospective Cohort Study. Diagnostics (Basel). 2022 Jun 2;12(6):1378. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics12061378.
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Other Identifiers
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6257
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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