Effect of Transauricular Vagal Stimulation on Cardiac Function After Spinal Cord Injury

NCT ID: NCT07007884

Last Updated: 2025-06-06

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-03-20

Study Completion Date

2025-09-30

Brief Summary

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The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of transauricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) on cardiac autonomic functions in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Detailed Description

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Spinal cord injury impairs autonomic pathways and ultimately cardiovascular homeostasis. Spinal cord injury affects the autonomic system, resulting in impaired cardiac autonomic functions. This study is designed to evaluate the effect of transauricular vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) on cardiac autonomic functions in patients with spinal cord injury.

Conditions

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Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Patients were divided into groups as group I cervical complete spinal cord injury (SCI) patients in active transauricular vagal nerve stimülation (taVNS) group, group II cervical complete SCI patients in sham taVNS group and group III lumbar SCI patients (diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome) in active taVNS group.
Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Cervical spinal cord injury - Active taVNS

The study included 30 traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients who fulfilled the criteria. Patients were divided into groups as group I cervical complete SCI patients in active transaurikular vagal nerve stimülation (taVNS) group (n:10), group II cervical complete SCI patients in sham taVNS group (n:10) and group III lumbar SCI patients (diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome) in active taVNS group (n:10).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Active Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Active taVNS application was performed by stimulating a sterile acupuncture needle (0.25x25 mm) placed on the left ear cymba choncae with a stimulator. Active taVNS group received for 10 days, 30 minutes with a current intensity of 1 mA, pulse width of 200 µs, frequency of 25 Hz and biphasic sinusoidal waveform. In the sham group, stimulation was applied to the lobulus auriculae of the left ear (which is not innervated by the vagus nerve) using the same current intensity and duration as the active group.

Cervical spinal cord injury - Sham taVNS

The study included 30 traumatic SCI patients who fulfilled the criteria. Patients were divided into groups as group I cervical complete SCI patients in active taVNS group (n:10), group II cervical complete SCI patients in sham taVNS group (n:10) and group III lumbar SCI patients (diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome) in active taVNS group (n:10).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Sham Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham taVNS application was performed by stimulating a sterile acupuncture needle (0.25x25 mm) placed on the left lobulus auriculae of the left ear (which is not innervated by the vagus nerve) with a stimulator. Sham taVNS group received for 10 days, 30 minutes with a current intensity of 1 mA, pulse width of 200 µs, frequency of 25 Hz and biphasic sinusoidal waveform.

Lumbar spinal cord injury (Cauda Equina Syndrome)- Active taVNS

The study included 30 traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients who fulfilled the criteria. Patients were divided into groups as group I cervical complete SCI patients in active taVNS group (n:10), group II cervical complete SCI patients in sham taVNS group (n:10) and group III lumbar SCI patients (diagnosed with cauda equina syndrome) in active taVNS group (n:10).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Active Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Active taVNS application was performed by stimulating a sterile acupuncture needle (0.25x25 mm) placed on the left ear cymba choncae with a stimulator. Active taVNS group received for 10 days, 30 minutes with a current intensity of 1 mA, pulse width of 200 µs, frequency of 25 Hz and biphasic sinusoidal waveform. In the sham group, stimulation was applied to the lobulus auriculae of the left ear (which is not innervated by the vagus nerve) using the same current intensity and duration as the active group.

Interventions

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Active Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Active taVNS application was performed by stimulating a sterile acupuncture needle (0.25x25 mm) placed on the left ear cymba choncae with a stimulator. Active taVNS group received for 10 days, 30 minutes with a current intensity of 1 mA, pulse width of 200 µs, frequency of 25 Hz and biphasic sinusoidal waveform. In the sham group, stimulation was applied to the lobulus auriculae of the left ear (which is not innervated by the vagus nerve) using the same current intensity and duration as the active group.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Sham taVNS application was performed by stimulating a sterile acupuncture needle (0.25x25 mm) placed on the left lobulus auriculae of the left ear (which is not innervated by the vagus nerve) with a stimulator. Sham taVNS group received for 10 days, 30 minutes with a current intensity of 1 mA, pulse width of 200 µs, frequency of 25 Hz and biphasic sinusoidal waveform.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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taVNS, auricular VNS

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged between 18-60
2. Having a traumatic spinal cord injury
3. Cervical spinal cord injury patients with a history of autonomic dysreflexia
4. At least 6 months after the injury
5. Signing an informed consent form showing consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria

1. Having a cardiac or neural pacemaker
2. Presence of pregnancy
3. Clinical coronary artery disease confirmed by invasive or coronary computed tomographic angiography
4. History of acute coronary syndrome (unstable angina, myocardial infarction)
5. Documented arrhythmia and/or use of antiarrhythmic drugs on ECG
6. Diagnosis of hypertension and use of antihypertensive drugs
7. Damaged skin lesion in the application area
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Gaziler Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Ayşenur ŞİMŞEK YAĞLIOĞLU

medical doctor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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SBÜ Gaziler Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi

Ankara, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

Facility Contacts

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Ayşenur Şimşek Yağlıoğlu

Role: primary

+903122912455

Other Identifiers

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E2-23-3620

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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