An interventional study of Nerve Transfer in Spinal Cord Injury, sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-06.
Sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Nerve Transfer surgery can provide improved hand function following cervical spinal cord injuries
Current treatment strategies of acute cervical spinal cord injuries remain limited. Treatment options that provide meaningful improvements in patient quality of life and long-term functional independence will provide a significant public health impact.
Specific Aim: Measure the efficacy of nerve transfer surgery in the treatment of patients with complete cervical spinal cord injuries with no hand function. Optimize the efficiency of nerve transfer surgery by evaluating patient outcomes in relation to patient selection and optimal timing the the surgery.
Hypothesis: Peripheral nerve transfers in patients with spinal cord injuries will improve hand function and provide improvement in patient quality of life and functional independence.
1,948 studies on the registry are indexed under Spinal Cord Injuries; 505 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 20 is below the median of 24 across 1,566 interventional studies indexed under Spinal Cord Injuries.
Browse Spinal Cord Injuries studies →Washington University School of Medicine is the lead sponsor of 1,765 studies on the registry; 271 are open to participants now.
Of its 324 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 212 (65%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Surgical - Nerve transfers for patients with stable cervical spinal cord injuries
Procedure: Nerve Transfer
A nerve transfer procedure will be individualized to each patient's functional deficit.
Change in upper motor strength
Patients motor strength will be assessed over 48 months of clinical follow-up with conventional manual motor testing
Time frame: 48 months
Change in Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores
The change in DASH scores will be followed over time and assessed pre-operatively, 6,12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 months post-operatively.
Time frame: 48 months
Change in Short Form 36 (SF-36) scores
The change in SF-36 scores will be followed over time and assessed pre-operatively, 6, 12, 18, 24. 36 and 48 months post-operatively.
Time frame: 48 months
Change in Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ)
The change in MHQ will be followed over time and assessed pre-operatively, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 months post-operatively.
Time frame: 48 months
Rates of Intraoperative and Post-operative complications
The number of complications within and after the operation.
Time frame: 48 months
Effect of timing on surgical intervention
Assess the effect of timing on primary and secondary outcome measures, early (\<12 months) vs. (\>12 months)
Time frame: 48 months
Rate of reoperation
The rate at which a patient needs to be operated on again.
Time frame: 48 months
Hand Function, measured by the Sollerman Hand Function Test
The Sollerman Hand Function Test is performed as part of an overall evaluation and assessment by study team Occupational Therapist pre-operatively, post-operatively, and at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months. 36 months and 48 months
Time frame: 48 months
This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Washington University School of Medicine