Nerve Transfer to Improve Function in High Level Tetraplegia

NCT ID: NCT06288763

Last Updated: 2025-11-26

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

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-02-05

Study Completion Date

2028-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The goal of this observational study is to determine if nerve transfer surgeries improve upper extremity function and quality of life in patients with a high level cervical spinal cord injury.

Participants will:

* undergo standard of care pre- and post-op testing and study exams
* complete pre- and post-questionnaires
* undergo standard of care nerve transfer surgeries
* follow-up with surgeon at 6/12/18/24/36 and potentially at 48 months
* attend therapy at local therapist for up to 2 years postop.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Restoration of function in patients with high tetraplegia has been an elusive clinical challenge. There is a critical need to find an effective reconstructive therapy/procedure which improves the upper extremity function in patients with high tetraplegia.

One pure motor nerve - spinal accessory nerve (SAN) remains a viable donor in high tetraplegia patients to successfully restore elbow flexion or extension. Elbow function can provide profound independence in mobility, ventilator management and may broaden the application of assistive therapies.

The two objectives of this study are:

* Determine if SAN nerve transfer surgery can improve the reinnervation of bicep or tricep muscles in high tetraplegia patients.
* Determine if SAN nerve transfer surgery can reanimate upper arm function and improve functional independence in patients with high tetraplegia.

Study Activities (including standard of care (SOC))

* Electrodiagnosis pre-op (SOC)
* Upper extremity maximum muscle testing (SOC)
* Questionnaires (SOC and study-related (SR))
* Exams by a study therapist (SR)
* Neurological exam - ISNCSCI - (SOC)
* Nerve Transfer Surgery to be determined by surgeon (SOC)
* Follow-up visits with surgeon at 6/12/18/24/36 and potentially 48 months
* post-op electrodiagnostic testing (SR)
* post-op upper extremity maximum muscle testing (SOC)
* post-op questionnaires
* post-op therapy exams (SR)

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Tetraplegia

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Observational Model Type

CASE_ONLY

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* 18-80 years of age
* High cervical SCI (motor level C1-C4)
* Motor complete SCI AIS grade A-B
* Plateaued spontaneous recovery for at least 6 months of non-operative therapy
* SCI greater than 6 months and fewer than 60 months since injury
* At least MRC 4/5 donor strength
* Mentally and physically willing and able to comply with evaluations

Exclusion Criteria

* Active infection at the operative site or systemic infection
* Any return or ongoing recovery of distal motor function
* Significant joint contractures and/or limitations in passive range of motion in the arm
* Mentally or physically compromised making it impossible to complete study activities
* Immunologically suppressed
* Currently undergoing long-term steroid therapy
* Active malignancy
* Pregnancy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Wilson Z. Ray

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

University of Michigan

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Pennsylvania

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Utah

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Stanford University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Miami

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Johns Hopkins University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Alberta

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Department of Defense / Congressionally Mandated Research Program (CDMRP)

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Wilson Z. Ray

MD - Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Wilson Z. Ray, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Washington University School of Medicine

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Stanford University

Stanford, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Miami

Miami, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Washington University in St. Louis

St Louis, Missouri, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Wake Forest Medical Center

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Houston Methodist

Houston, Texas, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States Canada

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Linda Koester, BS

Role: CONTACT

314-362-7368

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Adrian Valladarez

Role: primary

650-381-4257

Anthony Bet

Role: backup

650-683-5823

George Jimsheleishvili, MD

Role: primary

305-243-4781

Patricia Graham

Role: backup

305-243-5119

Chava Roberts

Role: primary

667-306-8862

Ala Elhelali

Role: backup

Savannah Solomon

Role: primary

734-936-7010

Linda Koester

Role: primary

13143627368

Wendy Jenkins

Role: primary

336-716-3842

Leah Coghlan

Role: primary

215-341-5864

Role: backup

Amber Behne

Role: primary

346-238-6424

Sergio Ibarra Cortez

Role: backup

346-238-2494

Kirstianna Lombardi

Role: primary

801-585-9821

Douglas Gibula

Role: backup

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

http://www.neurosurgery.wustl.edu

Washington University Neurosurgery Website

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

CDMRP-eBRAP-SC220192

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Hand Function for Tetraplegia
NCT00890916 COMPLETED NA
Epidural Stimulation for Upper Extremity Function
NCT06437548 NOT_YET_RECRUITING NA
Reanimation in Tetraplegia
NCT01997125 COMPLETED NA
Rebuilding Inter-limb Transfer in Cervical SCI
NCT06440538 RECRUITING EARLY_PHASE1