Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin Injections in the Rectus Femoris to Treat Stiff Knee Gait Following Acquired Brain Injury

Stopped early · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Stiff Knee Gait, Brain Injuries

In brief

Stiff knee gait is a common gait dysfunction following acquired brain injury. This gait deviation is characterized by reduced knee flexion during swing phase of the gait cycle and adversely impacts safe foot clearance. Stiff knee gait is an inefficient gait pattern and slows walking speed, limiting one's ability to adapt walking to community mobility demands. Fall risk is increased with this gait problem due to low or ineffective foot clearance. Common compensatory strategies are employed, such as circumduction, hip hiking or vaulting, during ambulation. The purpose of this study is to examine both the immediate (one month post-injection) and longer-term (4 months post-injection) effects of botulinum toxin injections to the rectus femoris (RF) on gait function in persons with brain injury. This study is clinically important to help inform rehabilitation professionals regarding treatment decisions for management of inefficient and often unsafe stiff knee gait problems following brain injury. Research Questions: * Is there a statistically significant difference in mean peak knee flexion between the experimental and control group? * Is there a statistically significant difference in mean peak knee velocity during the preswing and initial swing phases of gait between the experimental and control group? * Is there a statistically significant difference in gait function (based on 6-Minute Walk time and temporal distance measures) between the experimental and control group?

Key facts

Study ID: NCT00900666
Run by: Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
People needed: 19
Starts: 2009-01-01
Expected to finish: 2011-12-01
Last updated by the study team: 2013-06-24

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Greater than 6 months post-acquired brain injury
Male or female subjects, at least 18 years of age
Independent ambulation with or without assistive device or orthotic device
Cognitive Rancho Level VI or higher, ability to follow directions, and likely to complete all required visits
At least 100 degrees of passive knee flexion ROM
Gait velocity greater than or equal to 0.4 m/sec
Modified Ashworth scale rating of 1+ or higher for RF spasticity
Written informed consent and/or assent has been obtained
Meet criteria for stiff knee gait based on baseline computerized gait analysis data less than 2 weeks prior to receiving intervention, including:
Peak knee flexion less than or equal to 50 degrees (or > 2 standard deviations below normal adult peak knee flexion)
Peak knee flexion velocity less than or equal to 256 degrees/% gait cycle (or > 2 standard deviations below normal peak knee flexion velocity)

You may not qualify if…

Change in spasticity medications during course of the study
Ankle plantarflexion contracture greater than 0 degrees
Females with a positive pregnancy test, or who are breast-feeding, planning a pregnancy during the study, who think that they may be pregnant at the start of the study or females of childbearing potential who are unable or unwilling to use a reliable form of contraception during the study
Has had treatment with botulinum toxin of any serotype to RF or gastrocsoleus up to 12 months prior to enrollment in study
Evidence of current alcohol or drug abuse or history of neuropsychiatric condition not related to ABI
Concurrent participation in another investigational drug or device study up to12 months prior to enrollment in study
Infection or skin disorder at an anticipated injection site
Uncontrolled clinically significant medical condition other than the condition under evaluation
Known allergy or sensitivity to any of the components in the study medication, including human serum albumin and sodium chloride as well as the botulinum toxin protein
Any medical condition that may put the subject at increased risk with exposure to BOTOX including, but not limited to, diagnosed myasthenia gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy or any other disorder that might interfere with neuromuscular function
Any condition or situation that, in the investigator's opinion, may put the subject at significant risk, confound the study results, or interfere significantly with the subject's participation in the study

Where it is running

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital — Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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