Chilling the spine: could hypothermia heal paralysis?

NCT ID NCT02991690

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: University of Miami Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study is testing whether cooling the body to 33°C (just below normal) for 48 hours soon after a cervical spinal cord injury can improve nerve recovery and function. Researchers will enroll 120 adults aged 18-70 with severe but non-penetrating injuries. The cooling is delivered through a catheter in the leg, and participants are monitored for safety and neurological improvement.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: hypothermia (body cooling via catheter)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could become a standard early treatment to limit nerve damage and improve movement and independence after spinal cord injury.
What could go wrong: This is an early study without a control group, so results may not prove effectiveness. Cooling carries risks like infection, bleeding, and heart problems.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Hypothermia injury spinal cord injury

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

SPINAL CORD INJURY, ACUTE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Emory University School of Medicine
TERMINATED

Atlanta, Georgia, 30303-3049, United States
HonorHealth Research Institute with Barrow Brain and Spine
RECRUITING

Phoenix, Arizona, 85027, United States
Indiana University School of Medicine
TERMINATED

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202-1000, United States
Jackson Memorial Hospital
RECRUITING

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
Prisma Health - University of South Carolina
RECRUITING

Columbia, South Carolina, 29203, United States
Thomas Jefferson University
RECRUITING

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107-5125, United States
University of Maryland School of Medicine
RECRUITING

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

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