RecruitingNot Applicable

Multilevel Multimodal Neurophysiological Integration for Investigating the Network Modulatory Mechanisms of Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation

Taiwan30 participantsStarted 2026-08-01

Plain-language summary

This study will examine how the brain, spinal cord, and muscles communicate in people with spinal cord injury. Researchers will use noninvasive brain and muscle recordings together with spinal electrical recordings to better understand how epidural spinal cord stimulation (EES) affects nerve function. The results may help develop more effective and personalized rehabilitation treatments for people with spinal cord injury.

Who can participate

Age range

20 Years – 70 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: A. Non-Spinal Cord Injury (Non-SCI) Group * Individuals without spinal cord injury. * Patients diagnosed with chronic neuropathic pain who meet the criteria for routine temporary epidural spinal cord stimulation (EES) implantation therapy. * Patients who have undergone temporary epidural spinal cord stimulation (EES) implantation. * Ability to understand and follow motor instructions. * Age between 20 and 70 years. B. Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Group * Patients with chronic spinal cord injury. * Patients who have undergone temporary epidural spinal cord stimulation (EES) implantation. * American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grades A-D. * Spinal cord injury levels between C3 and L1. * Ability to understand and follow motor instructions. * Age between 20 and 70 years. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals with severe psychiatric disorders or cognitive impairments, including major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, or dementia, that may affect their ability to understand the study procedures or comply with study instructions. * Individuals who are unable to maintain consciousness, follow instructions, or complete study tasks, including motor tasks, isometric contractions, or resting-state tasks. * Individuals with severe medical conditions and unstable clinical status, such as uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, severe infection, respiratory failure, or other conditions deemed unsuitable for study participation by the attending physician. …

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

Peak-to-peak amplitude of spinal evoked responses

Timeframe: baseline; at 7、20 days after the implantation

Latency of spinal evoked responses

Timeframe: baseline; at 7、20 days after the implantation

Area under the curve (AUC) of spinal evoked responses

Timeframe: Baseline; at 7、20 days after the implantation

Recruitment curve of spinal evoked responses

Timeframe: baseline; at 7、20 days after the implantation

EEG spectral power

Timeframe: baseline; 7、20 days after the implantation

SEG spectral power

Timeframe: baseline; 7、20 days after the implantation

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07732972

SponsorBuddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2030-12-31

Contact for this trial

Yu-Chen Chen, M.D., Ph.D

+886-3-856-1825 spring810569@gmail.com

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Spinal Cord Injury(SCI) trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

20 Years – 70 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.

What they're measuring

Peak-to-peak amplitude of spinal evoked responses

Timeframe: baseline; at 7、20 days after the implantation

Latency of spinal evoked responses

Timeframe: baseline; at 7、20 days after the implantation

Area under the curve (AUC) of spinal evoked responses

Timeframe: Baseline; at 7、20 days after the implantation

Recruitment curve of spinal evoked responses

Timeframe: baseline; at 7、20 days after the implantation

EEG spectral power

Timeframe: baseline; 7、20 days after the implantation

SEG spectral power

Timeframe: baseline; 7、20 days after the implantation