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NCT Number: NCT06278740

Upper Extremity Pathologies in Spinal Cord Injuries

This study aims to determine the relationship between upper extremity pathologies and demographic data, duration of manual wheelchair use, duration of injury, physical examination and musculoskeletal ultrasound measurements in patients with spinal cord injuries.

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Key information

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries Central Nervous System Diseases Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal Pain Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Spinal Cord Diseases Trauma, Nervous System Upper Extremity Problem Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Afyonkarahisar, Turkey (Türkiye)

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About this study

Spinal cord injury is a neurological condition that can result from traumatic or non-traumatic causes, leading to motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunctions. Following a spinal cord injury, the upper extremity becomes increasingly used for mobility, weight-bearing, and transfer activities, making functionality crucial in daily life. Wheelchairs, commonly used by individuals with spinal cord injuries for daily activities, can lead to injuries and pain or degeneration in the upper extremities due to repetitive transfer activities. As a result, individuals with spinal cord injuries are at high risk for shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand injuries. Neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) has become increasingly important in clinical use in the evaluation of peripheral nerves and muscles in patients with spinal cord injuries in recent years, due to the advantages of ultrasonography such as providing dynamic and real-time evaluation, not containing radiation, and being painless.

This study aims to determine the relationship between upper extremity pathologies and demographic data, duration of manual wheelchair use, duration of injury, physical examination and musculoskeletal ultrasound measurements in patients with spinal cord injuries.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients who have experienced spinal cord injury, can comply with two-stage verbal commands, voluntarily agree to participate in the study and are medically stable.

Exclusion criteria

  • Tetraplegia
  • A significant comorbid condition such as severe heart disease and uncontrolled hypertension.
  • Cognitive dysfunction
  • Active infection
  • Malignancy
  • History of trauma to the upper extremity
  • Brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injury
  • History of surgery on the upper extremity

Treatment and study plan

Musculoskeletal ultrasound

Diagnostic Test

Upper extremity pathologies of participants with ultrasound

Primary outcomes

  1. Comparison of US findings among participants

    Time frame: 1 day (a single point in time)

    Ultrasonographic evaluation of upper extremity shoulder, elbow and wrist pathologies and examination of their relationship with clinical parameters.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

    Time frame: 1 day (a single point in time)

    Pain intensity was measured with visual analogue scale for pain (0-10 mm; 0 means no pain, 10 means severe pain) which is used to measure musculoskeletal pain with very good reliability and validity.

  2. The Physical Examination of the Shoulder Scale (PESS)

    Time frame: 1 day (a single point in time)

    Includes 10 specific shoulder examination methods (Neer test, Hawkins test, Painful arc test, Supraspinatus test, Speed test, Yergason's test, O'brien test, Gerber's lift-off test, Horizontal adduction test, 0-degree abduction test). For each test, if there is no pain, 0 points are given; if there is suspected pain, 1 point is given; if there is obvious pain described during the test, 2 points are given. The maximum score for a single shoulder is 20 points.

  3. The Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick DASH)

    Time frame: 1 day (a single point in time)

    Quick DASH is a rapid, practical, and frequently used scale that allows the evaluation of the functional and symptomatic status of patients with upper extremity problems. The questionnaire consists of 11 questions, with 5 options provided for each question. A higher score indicates more activity limitation and greater difficulty.

  4. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale

    Time frame: 1 day (a single point in time)

    ASIA assessment consists of two parts: motor and sensory. Motor assessment involves testing the strength of ten key muscles on each side of the body in the supine position (ranging from 0 = no contraction to 5 = normal resistance). The maximum score for the upper extremities and lower extremities is 50. Sensory evaluation includes testing pinprick and light touch sensation. Pinprick and light touch sensations are scored separately for each dermatome on a 3-point scale (0, 1, and 2). Total highest score is 224, higher score indicates better.

  5. The Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM-III)

    Time frame: 1 day (a single point in time)

    Reliable tool for measuring the level of independence following spinal cord injury (SCI). The total score ranges from 0 to 100 and comprises sub-items such as Personal Care (0-20), Respiration and Sphincter Management (0-40), and Mobility (0-40). Lower scores indicate decreased levels of independence.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Investigation of Upper Extremity Pathologies and Associated Factors in Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Feb 26, 2024
Registry last updated
Dec 8, 2025

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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