Lower Motoneuron Dysfunction Impacts Spontaneous Motor Recovery in Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

Paresis after spinal cord injury (SCI) is caused by damage to upper and lower motoneurons (LMNs) and may differentially impact neurological recovery. This prospective monocentric longitudinal observational study investigated the extent and severity of LMN dysfunction and its impact on upper extremity motor recovery after acute cervical SCI. Pathological spontaneous activity at rest and/or increased discharge rates of motor unit action potentials recorded by needle electromyography (EMG) were taken as parameters for LMN dysfunction and its relation to the extent of myelopathy in the first available spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was determined.

Applying intuitive EEG-controlled grasp neuroprostheses in individuals with spinal cord injury: Preliminary results from the MoreGrasp clinical feasibility study.

The aim of the MoreGrasp project is to develop a non-invasive, multimodal user interface including a brain-computer interface (BCI) for control of a grasp neuroprostheses in individuals with high spinal cord injury (SCI). The first results of the ongoing MoreGrasp clinical feasibility study involving end users with SCI are presented. This includes BCI screening sessions, in which we investigate the electroencephalography (EEG) patterns associated with single, natural movements of the upper limb.

OrthoJacket: an active FES-hybrid orthosis for the paralysed upper extremity.

The loss of the grasp function in cervical spinal cord injured (SCI) patients leads to life-long dependency on caregivers and to a tremendous decrease of the quality of life. This article introduces the novel non-invasive modular hybrid neuro-orthosis OrthoJacket for the restoration of the restricted or completely lost hand and arm functions in high tetraplegic SCI individuals. The primary goal of the wearable orthosis is to improve the paralysed upper extremity function and, thus, to enhance a patient's independence in activities of daily living.