Comparison of Cervical Extensor Muscle Thickness, Fat Infiltration, and Cervical Alignment in Pat… (NCT07148167) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Comparison of Cervical Extensor Muscle Thickness, Fat Infiltration, and Cervical Alignment in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis With a Healthy Population: a Retrospective Controlled Study
In the literature, we found only one study evaluating the thickness of the cervical paraspinal muscles (multifidus, semispinalis cervicis, semispinalis capitis, splenius capitis, and trapezius) in patients with AS. This study examined the morphology of all neck extensor muscles (multifidus, semispinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis, splenius capitis, and trapezius muscles) using ultrasound and their relationship to activities of daily living and compared them with a control group. As is well known, the user's experience is crucial in ultrasound. Furthermore, ultrasound cannot accurately assess the deep paravertebral muscles. Therefore, inspired by this study, we decided to use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to evaluate the cervical muscle planes in AS patients in more detailed and objective ways. In this study, in addition to cervical muscle volumes in AS patients, we also aimed to evaluate cervical fat infiltration and cervical alignment, which have not been previously evaluated in AS patients.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 50 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* For the study group:
* Patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, aged 18-50.
* Patients who underwent a cervical MRI between January 2020 and September 2023. Control Group Patients aged 18-50 who underwent cervical MRI between January 2020 and September 2023 due to nonspecific neck pain, who did not have an AS diagnosis and whose cervical MRI was reported as normal.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients over 50 years of age
* History of spine surgery;
* Presence of pain, numbness, and weakness in the upper extremities
* History of cervical injury or neck injury
* Presence of tuberculosis, tumor, fracture, infection, instability, cervical myelopathy, cervical disc herniation (protrusion, extrusion) (will be considered cervical bulging)
* Presence of cervical radiculopathy
* Those with a detectable pathological spinal condition related to neck pain, including spinal deformity; inflammatory or rheumatic diseases other than AS, malignancies, or neurological diseases
* A cognitive or psychological disorder
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
servical MRI fındings in AS patients,
Timeframe: Patients who underwent cervical MRI between January 2020 and September 2023