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Electrical Stimulation on Erbs Palsy Infants

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Erbs Palsy
Interventions
Other: Traditional physical therapy
Device: A computerized electrical stimulator (Vectra®2C; Chattanooga, TS, USA)
Registration Number
NCT06631664
Lead Sponsor
Badr University
Brief Summary

This study examined the effect of reciprocal electrical stimulation (RES) across elbow flexors and extensors on the reaction of degeneration percentage and motor function in Erbs palsy infants.

Forty infants with Erb's palsy aged between 2-5 months were randomly allocated to one of two equal groups: the control group (A) received standard physical therapy, the study group (B) received traditional physical therapy plus a 15-minute RES through elbow flexors and extensors. For three months, interventions were carried out three times each week. The percentage of degeneration and motor function reaction were assessed pre-and post-treatment using electromyography and Toronto active motion scale, respectively.

Detailed Description

This study examined the effect of reciprocal electrical stimulation (RES) across elbow flexors and extensors on the reaction of degeneration percentage and motor function in Erbs palsy infants.

Forty infants with Erb's palsy aged between 2-5 months were randomly allocated to one of two equal groups: the control group (A) received standard physical therapy, the study group (B) received traditional physical therapy plus a 15-minute RES through elbow flexors and extensors. For three months, interventions were carried out three times each week. The percentage of reaction of degeneration and motor function were assessed pre-and post-treatment using electromyography and the Toronto active motion scale respectively.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • Infants with OBPI limited to nerve roots C5, C6, with/without involvement of C7, partial lesion as determined by electrophysiological examinations, age between two to five months, and willingness of the infant's family to take part in the study.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Infants with clavicular or humeral fractures, complete transection of nerve roots, other neurological co-morbidities such cerebral palsy, congenital musculoskeletal deformities, or recommendation against electrical stimulation by the attending neuro-pediatrician.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Study groupTraditional physical therapyTwenty children suffering from Obstetric brachial plexus injury limited to nerve roots C5, C6, with/without involvement of C7
Study groupA computerized electrical stimulator (Vectra®2C; Chattanooga, TS, USA)Twenty children suffering from Obstetric brachial plexus injury limited to nerve roots C5, C6, with/without involvement of C7
Control groupTraditional physical therapyTwenty children suffering from Obstetric brachial plexus injury limited to nerve roots C5, C6, with/without involvement of C7
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Percentage of degeneration2 months

Surface electrodes were used in a computerized electromyographic device (Neuro screen plus four channel-version, TOENNES 97204 Hochberg, Germany) to calculate the percentage of degeneration of the biceps and triceps brachii muscles.

A 1 Hz frequency and 5 ms time basis were used to create a rectangular pulse. The strength of the stimulating current was gradually raised until there was no further rise in the amplitude of the diphasic myogenic compound action potential. A 10% increase in current was given to assure supramaximal stimulation. The level of stimulation ranges from 15 to 40 mA. The Neuro screen plus system's software was used to calculate the peak-to-peak amplitude. The following equation was used to compute the percentages of degeneration:

RD= 100{Amplitude of evoked response(in µv) affected side/Amplitude of evoked response(in µv)normal side x 100}

Toronto active motion scale (TAMS)2 months

The motor recovery was assessed using the Toronto Active Motion Scale (TAMS). For this study, scores for elbow flexion and extension were recorded.

It consists of 15 movements of upper limb joints with an eight-point scale measuring the strength of these movements, first by measuring the range of motion at each joint with gravity eliminated, and then measuring the range of motion against gravity. The scoring of the TAMS is defined as follows:

Observation Gravity elimination Muscle grade

No muscle contraction 0 Contraction, no movement 1 Motion \< range 2 Motion \> range 3 Full range of movement 4

Against gravity Motion \< range 5 Motion \> range 6 Full range of movement 7

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Prince Sattam bin Abdul-Aziz University

🇸🇦

Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia

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