CClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT02199015Andreani1Updated Apr 28, 2026

Lateral Cord Stimulation as a New Treatment for Refractory Spastic Cerebral Palsy

An interventional study of Lateral spinal cord surgical implant of electrodes in Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity, sponsored by Juan Carlos M. Andreani MD. Not yet recruiting at 2 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 16 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-28.

Sponsored by Juan Carlos M. Andreani MD · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
16 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The aim of our work is to investigate whether electrical Lateral Cord Stimulation (LCS) causes an inhibitory and modulatory action by indirect cerebellar activation, so releasing spasticity and the spastic syndrome in selected cases of patients with cerebral palsy

Read the detailed description

PROJECT Lateral Cord Stimulation was thought by the author to be employed in patients with spastic cerebral palsy with the aim to improve tonus, motor function and speech.

Nevertheless, as it has been demonstrated as acting on the basic phenomena related with spasticity, it's to say the propagated spinal responses, its use could be extended to other forms of spastic disease, like spastic limbs post stroke, brain congenital malformations producing spasticity and motor disorders as the main signs, post anoxic encephalopathy, etc.

In this preliminary clinical trial, classed as phase 3, our sample must be very limited to assure stable conditions for statistical significance, hence our group is going to be circumscribed to certain conditions and pathology.

In the future, as long the method could spread its use, the extension on indications in other pathological conditions is advisable thus, its possibilities of marketing could be enlarged with its use in a broader spectrum of spastic patients.

Calculated risks are similar to those related with the ancient surgical technique called "Scoville"technique, currently employed time ago for cervical discectomy (6) Investigational plan The purpose of this clinical trial is to release spasticity and by this means improve the condition of patients with spastic cerebral palsy by extradural lateral cord electrical stimulation, by using currently employed electrodes and neurostimulators Those devices are already FDA approved and currently used for Dorsal Column Stimulation with the objective to treat chronic Pain and spasticity (Spasmodic Torticollis).

02

Conditions studied

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Spasticity

Keywords

  • Dysarthria
  • Electrical Stimulation
  • Lateral Cord Stimulation
  • Spasticity
  • Treatment
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
16 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged sixteen or older
  • Spastic Cerebral Palsy with stable condition
  • Motor disability unilateral or predominantly unilateral.
  • Troubles of speech clinically evident.
  • Normal or Slightly sub-normal I.Q
  • No psychiatric disorders.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe cardiac or respiratory troubles
  • Fixed abnormal postures (except if previously corrected by orthopedic surgery)
  • Chronic recurrent bronchial or pulmonary infections
  • Chronic recurrent urinary infections
  • Severe osteoporosis on affected limbs
  • Chronic skin ulcerations.
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
40 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Spasticity, Cerebral Palsy

    To perform a Lateral spinal cord surgical implant of electrodes for electrical neuromodulation of a cohort of selectyed patients with refractory Spastic Cerebral Palsy To compare spasticity and speech trouble´s evolution on a cohort of treated patients, by evaluating their pre and post operative status into one year follow up.

    Device: Lateral spinal cord surgical implant of electrodes

Interventions

  • DeviceLateral spinal cord surgical implant of electrodes

    The procedure is based on the classic approaches to posterior cervical region for herniated discs, actually not longer employed for that aim A unilateral hemilaminectomy will be performed at C3-C4 level, starting from 4th cervical spinous process. A multicontact electrode will be placed on the lateral surface of the spinal cord that will be subcutaneusly connected to an implanted pulse generator (IPG).

    Also known as: Implant of Neurostimulators (electrical generators)

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Ashworth Scale

    The Ashworth scale has 5 points, they are: 1) no increase in muscle tone; 2) slight increase giving a catch when part is moved in flexion or extension; 3) more marked increase in tone but only after part is easily flexed; 4) considerable increase in tone; and 5) passive movement is difficult and affected part is rigid in flexion or extension

    Time frame: Day 0 baseline evaluation. One post operative evaluation every 30 day during six months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Barthel Index

    The Barthel Index consists of 10 items that measure a person's daily functioning specifically the activities of daily living and mobility of the patient. The items include feeding, moving from wheelchair,etc, and the whole evaluation is from 100 maximum what means total independence, to 0, absolute dependence

    Time frame: Day 0 baseline evaluation. One post operative evaluation every 30 day during six months

Other outcomes

  1. Functional Independence Measure (FIM)- for speech

    It is global independence assessment. In this case, we are going to take only those related to speech for disartria´s evaluation

    Time frame: Day 0 baseline evaluation. One post operative evaluation every 30 day during six months

06

Study locations

2 sites
  • Provincial Program of Neuromodulation
    La Plata, Buenos Aires 1045, Argentina
  • Klinikummagdeburg
    Magdeburg, 399130, Germany
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Andreani JC, Guma C. New animal model to mimic spastic cerebral palsy: the brain-damaged pig preparation. Neuromodulation. 2008 Jul;11(3):196-201. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1403.2008.00166.x. PubMed 22151096 ↗
  • Andreani JC, Guma C. Lateral cord stimulation decreases spastic electromyographic spreading: responses in a brain-damaged pig preparation. Neuromodulation. 2008 Jul;11(3):202-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1403.2008.00167.x. PubMed 22151097 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Yes, we plan to share data as long as participants are recruited. Because there are not yet patients, we do not have data to share

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02199015
Lead sponsor
Juan Carlos M. Andreani MD
Collaborators
Fundación CENIT
Responsible party
Juan Carlos M. Andreani MD (MD, Sociedad Argenttina de Neuromodulación) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Jul 24, 2014
Start date
Jun 1, 2027 (estimated)
Primary completion
Apr 1, 2029 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2030 (estimated)
Last update
Apr 28, 2026

Study contacts

Juan Carlos Andreani, MD
Contact
jcmandreani@gmail.com
5491150531392
Juan Carlos Andreani, MD
study director · Sociedad Argentina de Neuromodulación
Werner Braunsdorf, MD
principal investigator · Klinik von Magdeburg - Germany

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion