Trial Outcomes & Findings for CIMT and taVNS for Hemiplegia in Infants (NCT NCT05101707)

NCT ID: NCT05101707

Last Updated: 2025-06-13

Results Overview

Feasibility of delivering high fidelity CIMT therapy sessions while the therapist is also triggering taVNS using the Fidelity of Implementation Measure (FIRM) with scoring range (0-4), higher scores indicate greater consistency of therapy with established CIMT procedure

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Target enrollment

6 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

at 1 month

Results posted on

2025-06-13

Participant Flow

We recruited participants from referrals from neonatal high risk development clinic, and referral from other rehab professionals seeing patients in their clinics from June 1, 2021 to July 30, 2024.

open label study without a washout period. all participants were receiving physical and occupational therapy for hemiplegia

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
CIMT + taVNS
The investigators will deliver taVNS paired with 40h of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy for unilateral weakness/hemiplegia transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation: Applying a pulsed microcurrent to the auricular branch of the vagus nerve, timed with motor activity of the weaker arm/hand Constraint induced movement therapy: Applying a custom-made splint constraint to the stronger hand/arm to encourage use of the weaker hand/arm in intensive therapy sessions
Overall Study
STARTED
6
Overall Study
COMPLETED
6
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

CIMT and taVNS for Hemiplegia in Infants

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Open Label taVNS Paired With 40 Hours CIMT
n=6 Participants
infants with hemiplegia receive taVNs paired with constraint induced movement therapy for a total of 40h, 2h a day 5 days a week for 4 weeks
Age, Continuous
16.7 months of age
n=99 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
6 Participants
n=99 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
6 Participants
n=99 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
6 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: at 1 month

Feasibility of delivering high fidelity CIMT therapy sessions while the therapist is also triggering taVNS using the Fidelity of Implementation Measure (FIRM) with scoring range (0-4), higher scores indicate greater consistency of therapy with established CIMT procedure

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Open Label taVNS Paired With 40 Hours CIMT
n=3 Participants
infants with hemiplegia receive taVNs paired with constraint induced movement therapy for a total of 40h, 2h a day 5 days a week for 4 weeks
CIMT Fidelity
3.76 score on a scale
Interval 3.58 to 3.76

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 month

Population: entire group (n=6) received 40h of CIMT with taVNS

change in test of hand function and quality of movement between the right and left sides of the body, scoring range 0-100, higher scores indicate better hand function; from baseline to end of treatment

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Open Label taVNS Paired With 40 Hours CIMT
n=6 Participants
infants with hemiplegia receive taVNs paired with constraint induced movement therapy for a total of 40h, 2h a day 5 days a week for 4 weeks
Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST), GRASP
209 percentage of change from baseline
Standard Deviation 161

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 month

Population: entire group that received 40h of CIMT paired with taVNS

The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) assessment tool includes 88 items, each receiving a score from 0 to 3 (0 = does not initiate; 1 = initiates; 2 = partially completes; 3 = completes). Items span the spectrum of gross motor activities in five dimensions: A: Lying and Rolling (17 items), B: Sitting (20 items), C: Crawling and Kneeling (14 items), D: Standing (13 items), E: Walking, Running, Jumping (24 items). Every dimension score is expressed with a percentage. All dimension scores are then averaged to a total GMFM-88 percentage score, which is an estimate of the participant's gross motor function (0 = low motor function; 100 = high motor function).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Open Label taVNS Paired With 40 Hours CIMT
n=6 Participants
infants with hemiplegia receive taVNs paired with constraint induced movement therapy for a total of 40h, 2h a day 5 days a week for 4 weeks
Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88)
32 units on a scale
Standard Deviation 28

Adverse Events

CIMT + taVNS

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr Dorothea Jenkins

Medical University of South Carolina

Phone: (843)792-2112

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place