Ultrasound measurement of ankle (talar) cartilage thickness in people with spinal cord injury
Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Talar Cartilage Thickness in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study
This study will use ultrasound to compare ankle (talar) cartilage thickness in adults with spinal cord injury and healthy people to see if SCI is linked to thinner cartilage.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 76 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Gaziosmanpasa Research and Education Hospital Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Istanbul) |
| Trial ID | NCT07293949 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a single-center observational study that uses musculoskeletal ultrasound to measure talar cartilage thickness in adults with spinal cord injury and in healthy control subjects. Participants with cervical, thoracic, or lumbar SCI (AIS A–D), aged 18–60 and able to ambulate with assistance, will have ultrasound imaging and clinical evaluations including functional status, spasticity (MAS), and ambulation level. The primary comparison is between SCI patients and healthy subjects; secondary analyses will look for correlations between cartilage thickness and disease-related parameters. Exclusion criteria include sacral-level injury, AIS E, MAS 4 spasticity, recent lower-extremity surgery or fracture, recent botulinum toxin injection, and known rheumatologic or endocrine disease.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults 18–60 with cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spinal cord injury (AIS A–D) who can ambulate with assistance and can give informed consent are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People with sacral injuries, AIS E, very high spasticity (MAS 4), recent lower-limb surgery/fracture, recent botulinum toxin use, or diagnosed rheumatologic/endocrine disease are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If differences are identified, earlier detection of ankle cartilage thinning could prompt interventions to prevent or slow osteoarthritis in people with SCI.
How similar studies have performed: Ultrasound is an established method to measure cartilage thickness in osteoarthritis research, though using it specifically to characterize talar cartilage in people with SCI is less commonly reported.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged between 18 to 60 years, * Cervical, thoracal or lumber level of spinal cord injury * AIS (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale) Level A, B, C, or D * Assisted ambulation of any kind * Literacy * Giving oral and written consent to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with sacral level injury * AIS E * MAS 4 level of spasticity * History of any lower extremity operation * History of fracture * Botulinum toxin injection in the last 6 months * Existing diagnosis of any rheumatologic or endocrine diseases
Where this trial is running
Istanbul
- Gaziosmanpasa Training and Research Hospital — Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.