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NCT Number: NCT06122675

Cerebellar Deep Brain Stimulation for Movement Disorders in Cerebral Palsy in Children and Young Adults

The purpose of this study is to test the safety of placing Deep Brain Stimulators (DBS) in a part of the brain called the cerebellum and using electrical stimulation of that part of the brain to treat movement symptoms related to cerebral palsy. Ten children and young adults with dyskinetic cerebral palsy will be implanted with a Medtronic Percept Primary Cell Neurostimulator. We will pilot videotaped automated movement recognition techniques and formal gait analysis, as well as collect and characterize each subject's physiological and neuroimaging markers that may predict hyperkinetic pathological states and their response to therapeutic DBS.

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Key information

Conditions

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy Brain Damage, Chronic Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebral Palsy Dystonic Cerebral Palsy Nervous System Diseases

Age range

7 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, California, 94158, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Marta San Luciano Palenzuela, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of DCP (dystonic and/or choreoathetotic cerebral palsy) with or without comorbid spasticity, with a clear history of hypoxic ischemic brain injury preceding motor symptoms made by a pediatric neurologist, with supporting MRI findings.
  • Age 7-25 at the time of surgery.
  • Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Levels II-V.
  • History of appropriate therapy with oral medications with inadequate relief as determined by a movement disorders or pediatric neurologist. Prior history of selective dorsal rhizotomy is allowed.
  • Patient and family have requested surgical intervention with DBS for their movement disorder.
  • No gross cerebellar abnormalities observed and reported on structural MRI.
  • Written informed consent and written/verbal assent for those younger than 18 years of age.
  • Ability to comply with study follow-up visits for brain recordings, neuroimaging and testing of sham and effective stimulation and clinical assessments.

Exclusion criteria

  • Coagulopathy, uncontrolled epilepsy, severe cardiopulmonary or gastrointestinal conditions, or other medical conditions considered to place the patient at elevated risk for surgical complications.
  • Pregnancy: all women of child-bearing potential will be required to have a negative urine pregnancy test prior to undergoing their surgical procedure.
  • Exclusion of genetic mimics of cerebral palsy: exclusion of conditions that manifest with a clinical syndrome similar to CP, in the absence of documented risk factors or neuroimaging findings consistent with a history of brain injury or congenital cerebral malformation. Work up may include comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) microarray and multi-gene panel and/or whole genome or whole exome sequencing.)
  • Severe fixed contractions and skeletal deformities that would preclude determination of improvement.
  • Traumatic brain injury (i.e., non-accidental trauma) or history of infectious or autoimmune encephalitis.
  • Requirement of diathermy, electroconvulsive therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Treatment and study plan

DBS

Device

Implanted in the cerebellum.

Other names: Medtronic Percept

Primary outcomes

  1. Average total (global index) Movement Disorder-Childhood Rating Scale 4-18 Revised (MD-CRS 4-18-R) scores

    Time frame: Evaluated weekly during randomized blinded phase (total of 3 months in each condition, sham stimulation and effective stimulation).

    This is the primary motor outcome measure. It is the Movement Disorder-Childhood Rating Scale 4-18 Revised (MD-CRS 4-18 R). The MD-CRS 4-18 R is a validated tool aimed to evaluate movement disorders in developmental age. It is particularly useful for rating the severity of movement disorders in dyskinetic cerebral palsy. It scored based on two parts. Part I: General Assessment has a minimum total score of 0 (no impairment) and a maximum total score of 60 (maximal impairment). Part II: MD Assessment has a minimum total score of 0 (movement disorder is absent) and a maximum total score of 28 (maximal movement disorder presence).

  2. Average total standardized Caregiver Priorities & Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities (CPCHILD) scores

    Time frame: Evaluated weekly during randomized blinded phase (total of 3 months in each condition, sham stimulation and effective stimulation).

    This is the primary Quality of Life (QOL) outcome measure. It is the Caregiver Priorities & Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities (CPCHILD) scale. The CPCHILD is a reliable and valid measure of caregivers' perspectives on health status, functional limitations, and well-being of patients with severe CP, including those individuals who are non-verbal and non-ambulatory. Because many children suffering with CP are severely affected in many areas of their lives including activities of daily living, communication, mobility and overall health, there is an imperative to evaluate new interventions, especially invasive and resource-intensive ones such as DBS, using outcomes that are more meaningful to patients and their caregivers. Scores for each domain and for the total survey are standardized and range from 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Marta San Luciano Palenzuela, MD, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

4153532311

Sarah Wang, PhD, CCRP

CONTACT

[email protected]

4153537885

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Registry information

Official study title

Cerebellar Deep Brain Stimulation for Severe Combined Movement Disorders and Spasticity in Children and Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Nov 8, 2023
Registry last updated
Jun 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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