Gait and Balance in Thoracolumbar Spinal Deformity

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Spinal Curvatures
• Interventions: Other: None (Asymptomatic group); Procedure: Surgical intervention

• Registration Number: NCT02761265
• Lead Sponsor: Texas Back Institute

Brief Summary

Surgical intervention may provide pain relief and improvement in function but one area of significant clinical interest is the restoration/improvement in gait and functional balance. Based on the investigators knowledge, there is limited literature on biomechanics and neuromuscular control of the lower extremities and spine as assessed by objective gait analysis and balance strategies in adult degenerative scoliosis patients, pre and post surgical intervention. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of spinal deformity on the biomechanics and neuromuscular control of the lower and upper extremities, and also investigate the impact of surgery on these functions as evaluated by gait and balance analyses using dynamic EMG, video motion capture and force plate analysis and also to compare these patients with healthy controls to better evaluate the extent of limitations before and after surgery.

Detailed Description

Degenerative adult scoliosis results from age related changes leading to segmental instability, deformity and stenosis. Although the etiology is unclear, degenerative adult scoliosis is associated with progressive and asymmetric degeneration of the disc and facet joints, which typically lead to stenosis. By virtue of the narrowed spinal canal associated with the degeneration these patients frequently develop back pain, as well as leg pain, weakness, and numbness. With an aging population in the USA and an increased attention to quality of life versus cost issues in the current healthcare environment, degenerative adult scoliosis has become a considerable healthcare concern.

Patients with scoliosis demonstrate an altered gait pattern. Such differences include decreased step length and reduced range of motion in the upper and lower extremities, asymmetry of trunk rotation and ground reaction force in three-dimensions. Mahaudens et al. found a decrease in the muscular mechanical work associated with an increase of energy cost and a decrease in the muscular efficiency in a scoliosis population compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, scoliosis patients exert 30% more physical effort than healthy subjects to ensure habitual locomotion, and this additional effort requires a reciprocal increase of oxygen consumption. This altered gait pattern demonstrated by subjects with scoliosis may be due to changes in global postural control strategies caused by spinal deformity.

Previous research showed that scoliosis patients do not have impaired postural balance when compared to healthy controls, while several others did find an effect of scoliosis on postural balance. This discrepancy in findings may be due to differences in curve characteristics included and their effects on postural balance, curve types (single or double), number of different curve types, location of curves (thoracic and lumbar), and/or Cobb angles. Furthermore, Schimmel et al. found that postural balance one year after surgery did not improve as a result of the better spinal alignment, neither did the reduced range of trunk motion inherent to fusion negatively affect postural balance.

While medicinal interventions may assist with some of the associated co-morbid conditions, surgical interventions may be indicated for those patients with intractable and debilitating low back and leg pain. These surgeries have proven to be extremely successful in a majority of patients. The surgeries may involve decompression and instrumentation to stabilize the spine to achieve arthrodesis.

Surgical intervention may provide pain relief and improvement in function but one area of significant clinical interest is the restoration/improvement in gait and functional balance. Based on the investigators knowledge, there is limited literature on biomechanics and neuromuscular control of the lower extremities and spine as assessed by objective gait analysis and balance strategies in adult degenerative scoliosis patients, pre and post surgical intervention. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of spinal deformity on the biomechanics and neuromuscular control of the lower and upper extremities, and also investigate the impact of surgery on these functions as evaluated by gait and balance analyses using dynamic Electromyograph (EMG), video motion capture and force plate analysis and also to compare these patients with healthy controls to better evaluate the extent of limitations before and after surgery.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-03
• Study First Submitted: 2016-04-19
• Status Verified: 2016-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-05-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-05-02
• Study First Posted: 2016-05-04
• Last Update Posted: 2016-05-04
• Primary Completion: 2018-12
• Study Completion: 2018-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age 30 years and older
2. Clinically diagnosed thoracolumbar and/or lumbo-sacro-pelvic deformity as defined by the SRS/Schwab classification systems as Cobb angle of 25° or greater
3. Instrumentation to be used at 4 or more levels
4. Able to ambulate without assistance and stand without assistance with participant eyes open for a minimum of 10 seconds
5. Able and willing to attend and perform the activities described in the informed consent within the boundaries of the timelines set forth for pre-, and post-operative follow-up

Exclusion Criteria

1. History of prior attempt at fusion (successful or not) at the indicated levels, (history of one level fusion is not an exclusion)
2. Major lower extremity surgery or previous injury that may affect gait (a successful total joint replacement is not an exclusion)
3. BMI higher than 35
4. Neurological disorder, diabetic neuropathy or other disease that impairs the patient's ability to ambulate or stand without assistance
5. Usage of blood thinners
6. Major trauma to the pelvis
7. Pregnant or wishing to become pregnant during the study

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control Group	None (Asymptomatic group)	Gait and balance testing to be administered once in healthy subjects
Surgical Group	Surgical intervention	Gait and balance testing as well as self-reported outcome assessments to be administered before and after surgery

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Kinetic Variables Change assessed with human motion capture system	Prior to surgery; 3 and 12 months after surgery	Vertical Ground Reaction Forces (GRF)
Spatio-Temporal Variables Change assessed with human motion capture system	Prior to surgery; 3 and 12 months after surgery	Walking Speed
Electromyography Variables Change assessed with an Electromyograph	Prior to surgery; 3 and 12 months after surgery	Bilateral peak magnitude during the stance phase
Kinematic Variables Change assessed with human motion capture system	Prior to surgery; 3 and 12 months after surgery	3-Dimensional Range of Motion (ROM) during the stance and swing phase.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Patient Self-Reported Outcome Assessments Change	Prior to surgery; 3 and 12 months after surgery	Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Texas Back Institute; 🇺🇸 Plano, Texas, United States