Electric zaps after hand surgery may help paralyzed patients regain grip
NCT ID NCT03048331
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This small pilot study looked at whether adding functional electrical stimulation (FES) to reconstructive hand surgery can improve muscle strength and hand function in people with tetraplegia (paralysis of arms and legs). Fifteen adults with spinal cord injuries were enrolled. The study was terminated early, so results are limited. The goal was to see if FES could help muscles recover better after tendon or nerve transfers.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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15 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2017
- Finished
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Nov 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A research network
The lead sponsor is a research network or cooperative group.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * traumatic or non-traumatic (\> 6 month) spinal cord injury * Age ≥ 18 years * Level of lesion C4 - Th1 * American Spinal Cord Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) A/B/C/D * Planned reconstructive hand or arm surgery at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre Nottwil * Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Patients during primary rehabilitation * Patients' inability to follow the study, e.g. mental-health problems, language problems, dementia etc. * Pregnancy (anamnestic)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Swiss Paraplegic Centre
Nottwil, Canton of Lucerne, 6207, Switzerland
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Spinal stimulation may unlock better hand control after injury
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- Spinal cord zap may help people breathe again after neck injury
- Hands-Free faucet gives independence back to spinal cord injury patients