Non-invasive Therapy to Drive Nerve Regeneration

Enrolling by invitation · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Peripheral Nerve Injuries

In brief

Peripheral nerve injuries are common and often associated with poor outcomes including incomplete repair, debilitating pain states and compromised function. Although nerve regeneration can be enhanced by brief electrical nerve stimulation at the time of or before surgical repair in rodents and humans, this approach is invasive. Acute intermittent hypoxia, breathing alternate cycles of regular air and air with \~50% normal oxygen levels (11% O2) is an emerging, promising non-invasive therapy promoting respiratory and non-respiratory muscle function in spinal cord injured rats and humans. Because the entire body is exposed to this therapy, it has the potential to globally impact the nervous system beyond just controlling respiratory and leg function in spinal cord injured patients. Thus, the investigators hypothesized that an acute intermittent hypoxia paradigm similar to that used for spinal cord repair will improve peripheral nerve repair in a manner akin to electrical stimulation, including its impact on expression of regeneration-associated proteins - a predictor of nerve growth states. In recent studies the investigators found this to be the case and now propose to continue these promising studies by performing a pilot clinical trial evaluating this form of treatment on patients with compromised hand function due to severe carpal tunnel syndrome. The goal is to improve nerve repair outcomes in the least invasive and optimal manner.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT05848778
Run by: University of Alberta
People needed: 80
Starts: 2025-07-01
Expected to finish: 2028-08-31
Last updated by the study team: 2026-02-09

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

i) sensory impairments including numbness and pain; ii) nocturnal awakening by these symptoms; iii) weakness and wasting of the thenar musculature and, iv) loss of hand dexterity. v) Motor unit loss greater than 2 SD below the mean for the age group

You may not qualify if…

i) Chronic lung or cardiac disease ii) Other nerve disorders, previous carpal tunnel release or systemic illness including diabetes

Where it is running

University of Alberta — Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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