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Not yet recruitingNCT07832877Updated Sep 22, 2026

Prediction of Response to Shunt Surgery in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Using Radscale and Lumbar Puncture

An observational study in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, sponsored by Assiut University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 60 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-22.

Sponsored by Assiut University · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
40
Ages
60 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a neurological disorder in older adults characterized by walking difficulties, cognitive decline, and urinary dysfunction. While ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery can relieve symptoms, identifying which patients will experience meaningful recovery remains challenging.

The purpose of this study is to determine how accurately two preoperative diagnostic tools, the iNPH Radscale (a structured brain imaging score) and a standardized cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap test (lumbar puncture), predict symptom and gait improvement following shunt surgery.

Participants enrolled in this study will undergo:

  • Baseline neurological evaluations, cognitive screening via the Mini-Mental State Examination, and standardized walking tests (Timed Up and Go and 10-meter walk tests).
  • Review of brain CT or MRI scans using the 7-feature iNPH Radscale (scored 0 to 12).
  • A standardized CSF tap test, involving the removal of 30 to 50 mL of spinal fluid via lumbar puncture, followed by repeat walking evaluations at 2-4 hours and 24 hours to monitor temporary symptom response.
  • Standard-of-care VP shunt surgery if determined clinically appropriate by the treating surgical team.
  • Postoperative follow-up visits at 1, 3, and 6 months to evaluate functional recovery and gait changes using the Hellström iNPH scale.
02

Conditions studied

  • Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Keywords

  • iNPH Radscale
  • CSF Tap Test
  • Lumbar Puncture
  • Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
  • Shunt Responsiveness
  • Hellström iNPH Scale
  • Gait Disturbance
  • Timed Up and Go
03

In context

Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure

78 studies on the registry are indexed under Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure; 20 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 50 across 35 observational studies indexed under Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure.

Browse Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure studies →

Lead sponsor

Assiut University is the lead sponsor of 5,078 studies on the registry; 2,178 are open to participants now.

Of its 14 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
60 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Elderly patients aged 60 years or older presenting to the Department of Neurosurgery at Assiut University Hospitals with clinical suspicion of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) characterized by the clinical triad of gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, and/or urinary dysfunction, alongside neuroimaging (CT or MRI) evidence of ventriculomegaly compatible with iNPH.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 60 years or older.
  • Clinical suspicion of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), including the clinical triad (gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, and/or urinary dysfunction).
  • Neuroimaging (brain CT or MRI) demonstrating ventriculomegaly compatible with possible iNPH.
  • Physical ability to perform standardized gait testing.
  • Ability to provide written , or consent provided via a legally authorized representative.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Secondary hydrocephalus with an identifiable alternative cause (e.g., recent subarachnoid or intraventricular hemorrhage, major head trauma, or central nervous system infection).
  • Presence of any to lumbar puncture (including relevant bleeding risk/coagulopathy, puncture-site infection, or intracranial mass effect).
  • Previous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt or definitive hydrocephalus surgical intervention prior to enrollment.
  • Concurrent acute illness preventing valid clinical or functional assessment.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
40 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) Cohort

    Elderly patients aged 60 years or older presenting with clinical suspicion of the iNPH symptom triad (gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, and/or urinary dysfunction) and neuroimaging-confirmed ventriculomegaly. All participants undergo baseline clinical and cognitive assessments, preoperative neuroimaging evaluation using the iNPH Radscale (scores 0-12), and a standardized cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap test with 30-50 mL removal via lumbar puncture. Patients who proceed to clinically indicated ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery (PS Medical medium-pressure valve, Medtronic) are followed prospectively at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively to assess functional outcomes and gait recovery.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline in Hellström iNPH Scale Gait Domain Score at 6 Months

    The Hellström idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) scale gait domain assesses walking speed, step count during a standardized 10-meter walk test, and ordinal rating of gait pattern. Scores are converted to a normalized scale ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the most severe gait dysfunction and 100 represents normal performance of healthy individuals. Higher scores or positive changes from baseline indicate clinical improvement in gait function.

    Time frame: Baseline and 6 months postoperatively

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Oct 2027, 12 months later.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Sep 16, 2026
First posted
Sep 22, 2026
StartEst.
Oct 2026
Primary completionEst.
Oct 2027
CompletionEst.
Nov 2027
Last update
Sep 22, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 22, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07832877
Lead sponsor
Assiut University
Responsible party
Hassan Mohamed Hani Thabet (Resident of Neurosurgery, Assiut University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 22, 2026
Start date
Oct 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Oct 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Nov 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 22, 2026
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

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

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