Recruiting

Spinal Neuromodulation

Sponsor:

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Code:

NCT06213012

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Neuromodulation

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 22 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Transcutaneous Spinal cord Stimulation

Epidural Spinal Stimulation (ESS)

Study Details

Brief summary:

It has been demonstrated that the human lumbosacral spinal cord can be neuromodulated with epidural (ESS) and transcutaneous (TSS) spinal cord stimulation to enable recovery of standing and volitional control of the lower limbs after complete motor paralysis due to spinal cord injury (SCI). The work proposed herein will examine and identify distinct electrophysiological mechanisms underlying transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) and epidural spinal stimulation (ESS) to define how these approaches determine the ability to maintain self-assisted standing after SCI.

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Neuromodulation

Study ID

NCT06213012

Start date

Dec 6, 2023

Status verified date

Mar, 2026

Completion date

Aug 31, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 31, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 22 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion criteria

1. All participants must be able to provide a provision of a signed and dated informed consent form.
2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
3. Male or female, aged 22-75 years old.
4. Documentation from the participant's primary treating physician confirming a stable medical condition.
5. Inability to maintain standing independently without external support due to SCI AIS A-C.
6. Ability to tolerate at least 15 minutes in an upright (supported) position.
7. Able to self-transfer from the wheelchair and demonstrate active range of motion of bilateral upper extremities in gravity dependent plane.
8. Able to passively range bilateral lower extremities within normal mobility parameters including:

1. greater than 90 degrees of hip flexion and 165 degrees of hip extension;
2. greater than 90 degrees of knee flexion and reach neutral knee extension of 180 degrees;
3. neutral ankle position reaching a minimum of 90 degrees of dorsiflexion.
9. Participants should be on a stable intrathecal baclofen or oral anti-spasticity regimen/dose for the period of the study unless advised otherwise by their physician.
10. 1 to 30 years post spinal cord injury.
11. Non-progressive spinal cord injury.
12. Neurological level of injury below C4 and above T12 (excluding conus injury and/or indications of lower motor neuron injury).
13. Eligible for fMRI per safety questionnaire.
14. Women of childbearing potential must agree to the use of an effective means of avoiding pregnancy for the duration of the study.
15. Able to commit to the full study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Ability to maintain standing independently without external support.
2. Currently involved in another rehabilitation training of the lower extremities.
3. Active pressure sores, unhealed bone fractures, peripheral neuropathies, or painful musculoskeletal dysfunction (including but not limited to contractures in the upper and lower extremities).
4. Any ongoing medical condition which would preclude participant from regular physical activity (including but not limited to: cardiopulmonary disease, uncontrollable autonomic dysreflexia or orthostatic hypotension, active urinary tract infections, pregnant or nursing).
5. Intrathecal baclofen pump therapy for spasticity not compatible with 3T MRI.
6. Must not have received Botox injections to primary lower extremity and trunk musculature within the past 3 months, resulting in absence of muscle tone and precluding response to electrical stimulation therapy.
7. Current or history of neuromuscular conditions (including but not limited to: unhealed ligament of muscular tears in the upper or lower extremities, pain in weight bearing positions for upper and lower extremities).
8. Clinically significant depression, psychiatric disorders, or ongoing drug abuse, including heavy alcohol use.
9. Any reason the PI or treating physician may deem as harmful to the participant to enroll or continue in the study.
10. Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30.
11. Pregnancy.
12. Use a ventilator or diaphragmatic pacer.
13. Participants with the following conditions will be excluded from TMS, but may take part in the overall study:

  • Personal or first-degree family history of seizures or epilepsy.
  • Metal in the head, except mouth implants.
  • History of suicide attempts.
  • History of intracranial lesions, increased intracranial pressure, or stroke.
  • Current use of tricyclic anti-depressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin nor-epinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), buproprion (Wellbutrin), or tramadol.

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation (TSS)

Spinal Stimulation delivered over the skin using a research stimulator with conventional surface electrodes during research visits.

sham comparator: Sham

Sham Stimulation delivered over the skin using a research stimulator with conventional surface electrodes during research visits. Sham stimulation will be delivered using the intensity of stimulation set as during active sessions of ESS, but then gradually decreased down to zero in approximately 30 s. There will be 5-10 minute breaks interspersed between intervals of stimulation, and will vary according to the individual's tolerance and fatigue levels

experimental: Epidural Spinal Stimulation (ESS)

Stimulation delivered internally using an implanted device operated by an external control (only used during research visits).

Interventions

Transcutaneous Spinal cord Stimulation

Delivered using a constant-current stimulator

Epidural Spinal Stimulation (ESS)

The device used for ESS, the CoverEdgeX 32 Surgical Lead system (Boston Scientific, USA), is a device approved by the FDA used in the treatment of severe pain and is approved for individuals to manage chronic pain when other treatments have not been effective.

If you are in the ESS group, you will have surgery to have the stimulator placed and the stimulator will be removed at an office visit towards the end of the study.

Primary outcome measure

  • Assessment of force generation by lower limbs [ Time Frame: Baseline 1(week 1), baseline 2(week 6), post interventions (week 11), and follow up (week 16) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

Houston Methodist Hospital

Recruiting

Houston, Texas, United States, 77030

Contacts

Principal Investigator:

Dimitry Sayenko, MD, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Last update posted

Mar 30, 2026

Last verified

Mar, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by The Methodist Hospital Research Institute on 2026-03-30.