Principal Investigator: Sami Tuffaha, MD
More Details: Thirty (30) participants with high cervical ASIA A-B SCI and complete lack of upper limb function will be enrolled over multiple sites. All participants will undergo Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) to verify intact innervation (normal CMAPs) to the paralyzed target muscles below the level of injury. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) will be used to verify loss of lower motor neuron function in recipient muscle groups in the zone of injury and help differentiate those muscle with intact connections to preserve anterior horn cells. Only those participants with clinically normal, MRC grade 4/5 donor (axonal donor) function will be enrolled. Following selection of intact recipient nerves, nerve transfer surgery will be performed. Following nerve transfers, occupational therapy will start and continue for 24 months.
Protocol#: IRB00406001