Home › Peripheral Nerve Disorders › NCT03610763

Harnessing Neuroplasticity to Enhance Functional Recovery During Chronic Recovery From Upper Extremity Nerve Repair

Harnessing Neuroplasticity to Enhance Functional Recovery in Allogeneic Hand Transplant and Heterotopic Hand Replant Recipients

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Individuals whom have received a unilateral allogeneic transplantation proximal to the wrist and are at the chronic stage of recovery (approx. 12 - 18 months following surgery, when Tinel's sign reaches the distal fingertips).
* Individuals whom have undergone a complete amputation the hand between the wrist and elbow followed by successful re-attachment and are at the chronic stage of recovery (approx. 12 - 18 months following surgery, when Tinel's sign reaches the distal fingertips).
* Individuals whom have undergone repairs of the median, ulnar, or other related or nearby nerve(s) following complex volar forearm lacerations or other injuries between the distal wrist crease and the flexor musculotendinous junctions. Individuals must be at the chronic stage of recovery (approx. 12 - 18 months following surgery, when Tinel's sign reaches the distal fingertips).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals with significant/severe brain trauma
* Serious psychiatric conditions
* Chronic or severe neurological conditions.
* Current pregnancy
* History of seizures or unexplained loss of consciousness
* Metallic implants above the chest
* Certain implanted medical devices.

About the study

This study adopts a strategy that has arisen from basic neuroscience research on facilitating adaptive brain plasticity and applies this to rehabilitation to improve functional recovery in peripheral nervous system injuries (including hand transplantation, hand replantation, and surgically repaired upper extremity nerve injuries). The technique involves combining behavioral training with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)-a non-invasive form of brain stimulation capable of facilitating adaptive changes in brain organization.

What is being tested

• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (device)
• Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (behavioral)

Sponsor: University of Missouri-Columbia · Participants: 180 · Started: Aug 15, 2018

Contact the study team

• Scott H Frey, Ph.D., Ed.M. · Phone: 573-882-4572

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT03610763

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Peripheral Nerve Disorders

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.