An interventional study of Electrical Stimulation in Head and Neck Cancer, Nerve Injury and Neck Dissection, sponsored by McMaster University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-08-19.
Sponsored by McMaster University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
Shoulder weakness and pain are common after neck dissection surgery for head and neck cancer. This is often caused by injury to the spinal accessory nerve, which controls important shoulder muscles. Recovery can be slow and incomplete, affecting patients' ability to return to daily activities. This project will test whether a brief, low-dose electrical stimulation treatment can help the nerve heal faster and improve shoulder function. The treatment is applied during surgery and is safe, non-invasive, and quick to deliver. If successful, this approach could lead to better rehabilitation, less disability, and improved quality of life for patients undergoing cancer surgery. The project also supports the development of new medical technology and offers a pathway to expand the use of electrical stimulation in other nerve injuries.
2,344 studies on the registry are indexed under Head and Neck Neoplasms; 551 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 38 is below the median of 47 across 1,751 interventional studies indexed under Head and Neck Neoplasms.
Browse Head and Neck Neoplasms studies →McMaster University is the lead sponsor of 720 studies on the registry; 124 are open to participants now.
Of its 6 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 2 (33%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Post-operative electrical stimulation of spinal accessory nerve post neck dissection.
Device: Electrical Stimulation
Custom stimulator will deliver a 1hour stimulation protocol post-operatively at 20 Hz, with biphasic pulses (100 µs duration, 0-2mA amplitude range).
Constant Murley Score (CMS)
Shoulder function will be assessed using the Constant-Murley Score (CMS), a validated composite measure of shoulder function. The CMS ranges from 0 to 100 points, where higher scores indicate better shoulder function. The score incorporates four components: pain (15 points), activities of daily living (20 points), range of motion (40 points), and strength (25 points). A score of 100 represents full, pain-free shoulder function with normal strength and range of motion, while a score of 0 reflects complete dysfunction.
Time frame: 6 months post operative
Plan to share: Yes — Demographics Patient outcomes (CMS scores, electromyography and patient reported outcomes)
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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McMaster University