Cerebral Palsy Upper Extremity Orthotic Device

December 21, 2023 updated by: Alice Chu, MD, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Use of Low Cost Orthotic Device to Improve Upper Extremity Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Upper extremity therapies for children with cerebral palsy (CP) have been validated for improving function in higher functioning patients. Those who function at the lowest end of the scale, on the Manual Ability Classification System scale (MACS) III-V, comprise 34-54% of the population, but as yet have no evidence-based interventions specific to their needs. Lower functioning children often retain some voluntary control of the elbow in spite of limited finger motion. A dynamic splint, or exoskeleton, could utilize the tenodesis effect from elbow motion to drive finger release while retaining flexor tone for grasp, potentially creating a portable, home-based therapeutic tool. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of an upper extremity orthotic device in improving the upper extremity function of children with cerebral palsy who have limited use of their hands.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
36

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

4 years to 17 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • diagnosis of cerebral palsy, age 4-17 years, moderate-severe hand disability as graded by the Manual Ability Classification System, active movement of the elbow, ability to follow commands and participate in goal-making and repetitive tasks

Exclusion Criteria:

  • mild or extremely severe hand disability, Botox or orthopaedic surgery within the past 6 months, severe contractures, lack of voluntary arm motion, unable to follow commands due to severe cognitive impairment

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Orthotic + Occupational Therapy
Device: Upper Extremity Orthotic
3D printed orthotic which uses elbow motion to facilitate finger extension
Active Comparator: Occupational Therapy alone
Other: Occupational Therapy
6 weekly sessions of occupational therapy, without use of an assistive orthotic device

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Assisting Hand Assessment from 1) pre to post treatment; 2) post treatment to 3 month followup, and 3) pre treatment to 3 mos after cessation of treatment
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months
The Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) is a test of hand function in children with difficulties using one of their hands. The AHA measures how effectively the affected hand and arm is used in bimanual performance. An assessment is performed by observing the child's spontaneous handling of toys in a relaxed and playful session. The scale is 0-100, and a higher score indicates better function. A change of +5 is clinically significant.
through study completion, an average of 6 months
Change in Melbourne Assessment-2 from 1) pre to post treatment; 2) post treatment to 3 month followup, and 3) pre treatment to 3 mos after cessation of treatment
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months

The Melbourne Assessment 2 (MA2) is a valid and reliable criterion-referenced test for evaluating four elements of upper limb movement quality in children with a neurological impairment aged 2.5 to 15 years: (i) Range of movement, (ii) Accuracy of reach and placement, (iii) Dexterity of grasp, release and manipulation and (iv) Fluency of movement.

The full test comprises 14 test items which require a child to reach to, grasp, release and manipulate simple objects. Each child's test performance is video recorded for subsequent scoring.

Scoring is completed across the 30 score items using a three, four or five point scale and individually defined scoring criteria. Item scores relating to each element of movement measured are summed within the corresponding sub-scale. A raw score scale change of 3 for range of motion, dexterity, and fluency; and a change of 4 for accuracy is considered clinically significant.
through study completion, an average of 6 months
Change in Children's Hand Use Experience Questionnaire from 1) pre to post treatment; 2) post treatment to 3 month followup, and 3) pre treatment to 3 mos after cessation of treatment
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months
CHEQ is a newly developed questionnaire. It has been developed for children and adolescents with decreased function in one hand, for example hemiplegic CP, obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) and upper limb reduction deficiency, and for their parents. The scale is 0-100, with the higher score indicating better abilities.
through study completion, an average of 6 months
Change in range of motion for shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and fingers from 1) pre to post treatment; 2) post treatment to 3 month followup, and 3) pre treatment to 3 mos after cessation of treatment
Time Frame: pre treatment, immediate post treatment, and 3 month followup
pre treatment, immediate post treatment, and 3 month followup

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Change in motion analysis parameters from 1) pre to post treatment; 2) post treatment to 3 month followup, and 3) pre treatment to 3 mos after cessation of treatment
Time Frame: pre treatment, immediate post treatment
pre treatment, immediate post treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 3, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 26, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 27, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 26, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 21, 2023

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Pro2020000653

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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