A Robotic Hand Device Safety Study for People With Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

FEDERAL PRACTITIONER, 2018 · DOI: · Published: April 1, 2018

Spinal Cord Injury Assistive Technology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

The study evaluates the safety and tolerability of the FES Hand Glove 200, a robotic system designed to improve hand function in individuals with tetraplegia resulting from cervical spinal cord injuries. The device combines active and passive range of motion (ROM) exercises with functional electrical stimulation (FES) to facilitate neural connectivity, restore ROM, improve strength, and enhance overall hand function, ultimately aiming to improve the patient's quality of life. The study monitored participants for adverse effects such as skin integrity issues, joint deformity, pain changes, and autonomic dysreflexia episodes during a 6-week intervention period.

Study Duration

6 Weeks

Participants

14 men with cervical SCI levels C4 to C6

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The study found that the FES Hand Glove 200 was safe and well-tolerated by the participants over the 6-week period.
2
There was no loss of skin integrity, no joint deformity, and no increase in hand or finger edema observed in the subjects.
3
Participants also showed improvements in active and passive movements in the forearm, wrist, and hand, and there was significant improvement in the strength of the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) muscle.

Research Summary

This study investigated the safety and tolerability of the FES Hand Glove 200, a robotic device combining PROM exercise and FES, for individuals with tetraplegia due to cervical SCI. The results indicated that the device is safe and well-tolerated over a 6-week period, with no significant adverse effects such as skin integrity issues or joint deformity. Additionally, some participants showed improvements in ROM of wrist and finger joints and EDC muscle strength, suggesting potential efficacy pending further studies.

Practical Implications

Clinical Application

The FES Hand Glove 200 can be considered as a safe and tolerable rehabilitation tool for individuals with cervical SCI in a clinical setting.

Future Research

Further research is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of the device with larger sample sizes, different treatment frequencies, and longer durations of use.

Quality of Life Improvement

The potential improvements in upper-extremity function offered by the device could enhance the quality of life for individuals with cervical SCI.

Study Limitations

1
The duration of treatment of eight 30-minute sessions per week over a 6-week period.
2
A longer treatment duration could result in repetition-related injuries and should be tested in future trials.
3
Finally, the sample size of this study was relatively small.

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