Changes in Tactile Perception in People With Segmental Exclusion Syndrome

Segmental exclusion syndrome is characterised by the non-use or under-use of a limb segment, most oftenly reported in the distal part, following an injury, without affecting the central nervous system. This syndrome has an important negative impact on the daily life of affected subjects; however, it remains poorly studied, particularly in terms of pathophysiology, and its management is still not specific. Currently, the main pathophysiological hypothesis is an alteration of the afferences related to a dysfunction of the sensorimotor loop. An hypothesis is that this dysfunction could concern the level of tactile perception and that the damage to the distal light touch receptors could play a role in the pathophysiology. The protocol is based on the performance of tests that explore different aspects of light touch: passive, active, dynamic and static sensitivity.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Upper Limb Exclusion Syndrom

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 34

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Nancy, France, 54000
    • Institut Régional de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consisted of adults with a segmental exclusion of a finger more than 3 months after the initial injury. In order to study sensitivity disorders related to the exclusion, we decided to include only people who had no pathology that could have an impact on sensitivity and who had no truncal nerve damage at the time of the initial injury.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• No history of upper limb involvement
• Confirmed diagnosis of segmental exclusion > 3 months after injury (2 items assigned to 400 points)
• Able to understand simple orders

Exclusion Criteria:

• Central neurological involvement after the initial or pre-existing injury
• Truncal nerve damage
• Presence of psychiatric pathology
• Communication and/or comprehension disorders
• Presence of other pathology that may lead to sensory disorders (complicated diabetes, ductal syndrome, ...)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Control
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Patients with exclusion; Evaluation of the tactile sensitivity of the excluded finger using different tests: Static and dynamic two-points discrimination tests, the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, grating orientation task and the bar test inspired by the study of Louw et al. Realization of the same tests on the controllateral healthy finger.
Control; Evaluation of the tactile sensitivity of the finger using different tests: Static and dynamic two-points discrimination tests, the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, grating orientation task and the bar test inspired by the study of Louw et al. Realization of the same tests on the controllateral finger.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Difference in passive sensitivity discrimination orientation threshold between each hand in static condition.	Difference in thresholds of sensitive discrimination between the two hands in the Grating Orientation Task (mm)	once during the one-day evaluation session
Difference in passive sensitivity discrimination threshold between each hand in static condition.	Difference in thresholds of sensitive discrimination between the two hands in the Static Two Points discrimination test (mm)	once during the one-day evaluation session
Difference in passive sensitivity discrimination of pressure threshold between each hand in static condition.	Difference in thresholds of sensitive discrimination between the two hands in the monofilament test (Newton)	once during the one-day evaluation session
Difference in passive sensitivity discrimination threshold between each hand in dynamic condition.	Difference in thresholds of sensitive discrimination between the two hands in Moving Two-Points Discrimination Test (mm)	once during the one-day evaluation session

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Difference in active sensitivity discrimination threshold between each hand in dynamic condition.	Percentage of correct answers to the bar test in both groups.	During the evaluation session

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Union de Gestion des Etablissements des Caisses d'Assurance Maladie - Nord Est

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 26, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): February 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 5, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 13, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): December 14, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 22, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 21, 2025
• Last Verified: August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRR-CLP-2022-9

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No