ICORD and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre of Vancouver Coastal Health are conducting a clinical study to improve the diagnosis and understanding of cervical spinal cord injury (SCI).
The goal of this study is to use new non-invasive techniques that examine different nerve fibres in the spinal cord to better understand the type and extent of spinal cord damage. In order to validate these new techniques, routine assessments in individuals with cervical SCI are needed, who meet the following criteria:
• Between 19 – 60 years of age
• SCI between the 4th and 8th cervical segment
• Are at least 1 month from the date of SCI
• Are not ventilator dependent
If you choose to enroll and are eligible to participate in this study, you will undergo a brief neurological examination of the upper limbs (5-10 minutes) and a 1.5 hour neurophysiological testing sessions involving non-painful (moderate) heat and electrical stimulation on the arm. If you are an In-patient at GF Strong, follow-up assessments will occur monthly until discharge and at 6 and 12 months after SCI. If you are an Out-patient living with SCI for more than a year, then the initial assessment will only be repeated one additional time.
To cover the costs of transportation and any other expenses, subjects will be paid a participation fee.
If you are interested in participating or learning more information about the study, please contact the study coordinator and co-investigator (John Kramer) at (604) 675-8808 or email jkramer@icord.org.
Principal Investigators: Drs. John Steeves, Rhonda Wilms, Andrea Townson
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