NCT05835765

Brief Summary

The goal of this prospective pilot study is to test the use of dynamic elastomeric body in a population of preterm newborns with hyperexcitability syndrome. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of the body in elasto-compressive material (FLEXA) in addition to standard care;
  • To evaluate how the use of dynamic elastomeric body promote postural containment, reduce hyperexcitability (tremor and crying), improve the organization of movement and reduce respiratory distress. Participants will be given to routine clinical evaluations that are part of the standard of care of the premature infant admitted to Neonatology. The clinical evaluation shall consist of:
  • Hammersmith neonatal neurological examination;
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioural Scale (NNNS);
  • General Movement's (GM's)
  • Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) Researchers will compare a study group that will be subjected to treatment with the body in elasto-compressive material and a control group without using the body in elasto-compressive material.

Trial Health

55
Monitor

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
24

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2024

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
enrolling by invitation

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 28, 2023

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 28, 2023

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 1, 2024

Completed
1.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 1, 2025

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 31, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

March 6, 2024

Status Verified

March 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

1.2 years

First QC Date

March 28, 2023

Last Update Submit

March 4, 2024

Conditions

Keywords

prematurityHyperexcitability syndromeNeonatal intensive careDynamic Elastometric device

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Modification or reduction of hyperexcitability syndrome with the use of Dynamic Elastometric Bodysuit

    Modification or reduction of hyperexcitability syndrome with use of Dynamic Elastometric Bodysuit in addition to standard care in terms of improvement of Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) between the two groups. The GAS scale report a 5 level score between -2 ( worse score) to +2 (better score)

    baseline

  • Modification or reduction of hyperexcitability syndrome with the use of Dynamic Elastometric Bodysuit

    Modification or reduction of hyperexcitability syndrome with use of Dynamic Elastometric Bodysuit in addition to standard care in terms of improvement of Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) between the two groups. The GAS scale report a 5 level score between -2 ( worse score) to +2 (better score)

    One week of application of Dynamic Elastometric Body

  • Modification or reduction of hyperexcitability syndrome with the use of Dynamic Elastometric Bodysuit

    Modification or reduction of hyperexcitability syndrome with use of Dynamic Elastometric Bodysuit in addition to standard care in terms of improvement of Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) between the two groups. The GAS scale report a 5 level score between -2 ( worse score) to +2 (better score)

    at one month from hospital discharge

Secondary Outcomes (10)

  • Neurological Outcome with Hammersmith neonatal neurological examination (HNNE)

    baseline

  • Neurological Outcome with Hammersmith neonatal neurological examination (HNNE)

    One week after the use of Dynamic Elastometric Body

  • Neurological Outcome with Hammersmith neonatal neurological examination (HNNE)

    At one month from hospital discharge

  • Neurobehavioural Outcome with NICU Network Neurobehavioural Scale (NNNS).

    baseline

  • Neurobehavioural Outcome with NICU Network Neurobehavioural Scale (NNNS).

    One week after the use of Dynamic Elastometric Body

  • +5 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Dynamic Elastometric Body and neurological evaluation

EXPERIMENTAL

Use of dynamic elastometric body for one week and neurological evaluation before use of body, at 30 minutes after application, at one week after using the device and at 1th months since discharge

Device: Dynamic Elastometric Body in Preterm Newborns

Neurological evaluation

NO INTERVENTION

Neurological evaluation at enrollment, at one week after enrollment and at 1th months since discharge

Interventions

The study group made up of 12 newborns will use Flexa bodysuits made to the measurements of newborns.The bodysuit will be worn for a minimum of 4 hours and a maximum of 6 hours each day for a week (depending on any signs of discomfort). After 6 hours, the body will be removed and reapplied the next day for 4-6 hours. The child will use the same leotard for the entire study period (1 week) and changed only if dirty.

Dynamic Elastometric Body and neurological evaluation

Eligibility Criteria

Age8 Days - 1 Month
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17)

You may qualify if:

  • Signs of hyperexcitability such as tremors, sudden and chaotic movements, prevalent extensor tone, postural instability and/or neurovegetative phenomena;
  • Low neurological risk, i.e., according to the protocols implemented in the standard clinical practice of the Neonatology unit, a cerebral ultrasound is performed for those born between 28-32 weeks of GA, and for those born before 28 weeks of GA, an MRI of the brain) from which it may derive;
  • Cerebral ultrasound normal or with minor ultrasound findings such as grade 1 intraventricular hemorrhage (germinal matrix hemorrhage with intraventricular hemorrhage covering less than 10% of the ventricular area in the parasagittal window), or evidence of transient focal white matter hyperechogenicity.
  • Issue of informed consent by the parent or legal guardian.

You may not qualify if:

  • Neuroimaging findings of major brain lesions, such as evidence of grade 2 or greater intraventricular hemorrhage on cerebral ultrasonography (germinal matrix hemorrhage with intraventricular hemorrhage over 10% of the ventricular area in the parasagittal window/with periventricular hyperechogenicity ) or persistent hyperechogenicity for more than a week;
  • Presence of: ongoing infectious states and/or sepsis, ostomy wearers, severe cardio-respiratory disorders at the time of enrolment; diagnosis of genetic or metabolic diseases; carriers of cerebral malformations; invasive or non-invasive respiratory assistance;
  • Failure to issue informed consent by the parent or legal guardian.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli -IRRCS

Rome, 00168, Italy

Location

Related Publications (17)

  • Tognetti A, Lorussi F, Tesconi M, Bartalesi R, Zupone G, De Rossi D. Wearable kinesthetic systems for capturing and classifying body posture and gesture. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2005;2006:1012-5. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2005.1616589.

    PMID: 17282358BACKGROUND
  • Matthews MJ, Watson M, Richardson B. Effects of dynamic elastomeric fabric orthoses on children with cerebral palsy. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2009 Dec;33(4):339-47. doi: 10.3109/03093640903150287.

    PMID: 19961295BACKGROUND
  • Watson MJ, Crosby P, Matthews M. An evaluation of the effects of a dynamic lycra orthosis on arm function in a late stage patient with acquired brain injury. Brain Inj. 2007 Jun;21(7):753-61. doi: 10.1080/02699050701481613.

    PMID: 17653949BACKGROUND
  • Cholewicki J, Lee AS, Peter Reeves N, Morrisette DC. Comparison of trunk stiffness provided by different design characteristics of lumbosacral orthoses. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2010 Feb;25(2):110-4. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2009.10.010. Epub 2009 Dec 9.

    PMID: 20004503BACKGROUND
  • Flanagan A, Krzak J, Peer M, Johnson P, Urban M. Evaluation of short-term intensive orthotic garment use in children who have cerebral palsy. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2009 Summer;21(2):201-4. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0b013e3181a347ab.

    PMID: 19440130BACKGROUND
  • Harris SR. A study of a dynamic proximal stability splint in the management of children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1996 Feb;38(2):181-3. No abstract available.

    PMID: 8603786BACKGROUND
  • Blair E, Ballantyne J, Horsman S, Chauvel P. A study of a dynamic proximal stability splint in the management of children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1995 Jun;37(6):544-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1995.tb12041.x.

    PMID: 7789663BACKGROUND
  • Romeo DM, Specchia A, Sini F, Bompard S, Di Polito A, Del Vecchio A, Ferrara P, Bernabei R, Mercuri E. Effects of Lycra suits in children with cerebral palsy. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2018 Sep;22(5):831-836. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2018.04.014. Epub 2018 May 3.

    PMID: 29802022BACKGROUND
  • Belizon-Bravo N, Romero-Galisteo RP, Cano-Bravo F, Gonzalez-Medina G, Pinero-Pinto E, Luque-Moreno C. Effects of Dynamic Suit Orthoses on the Spatio-Temporal Gait Parameters in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review. Children (Basel). 2021 Nov 5;8(11):1016. doi: 10.3390/children8111016.

    PMID: 34828729BACKGROUND
  • Romeo DM, Bompard S, Cocca C, Serrao F, De Carolis MP, Zuppa AA, Ricci D, Gallini F, Maddaloni C, Romagnoli C, Mercuri E. Neonatal neurological examination during the first 6h after birth. Early Hum Dev. 2017 May;108:41-44. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2017.03.013. Epub 2017 Apr 5.

    PMID: 28390243BACKGROUND
  • Als H, Duffy FH, McAnulty GB, Rivkin MJ, Vajapeyam S, Mulkern RV, Warfield SK, Huppi PS, Butler SC, Conneman N, Fischer C, Eichenwald EC. Early experience alters brain function and structure. Pediatrics. 2004 Apr;113(4):846-57. doi: 10.1542/peds.113.4.846.

    PMID: 15060237BACKGROUND
  • Lawrence J, Alcock D, McGrath P, Kay J, MacMurray SB, Dulberg C. The development of a tool to assess neonatal pain. Neonatal Netw. 1993 Sep;12(6):59-66.

    PMID: 8413140BACKGROUND
  • Romeo DM, Cowan FM, Haataja L, Ricci D, Pede E, Gallini F, Cota F, Brogna C, Vento G, Romeo MG, Mercuri E. Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination for infants born preterm: predicting outcomes other than cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2021 Aug;63(8):939-946. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.14768. Epub 2020 Dec 18.

    PMID: 33336801BACKGROUND
  • Turner-Stokes L. Goal attainment scaling (GAS) in rehabilitation: a practical guide. Clin Rehabil. 2009 Apr;23(4):362-70. doi: 10.1177/0269215508101742. Epub 2009 Jan 29.

    PMID: 19179355BACKGROUND
  • Brown G. NICU noise and the preterm infant. Neonatal Netw. 2009 May-Jun;28(3):165-73. doi: 10.1891/0730-0832.28.3.165.

    PMID: 19451078BACKGROUND
  • Lester BM, Andreozzi-Fontaine L, Tronick E, Bigsby R. Assessment and evaluation of the high risk neonate: the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale. J Vis Exp. 2014 Aug 25;(90):3368. doi: 10.3791/3368.

    PMID: 25177897BACKGROUND
  • Einspieler C, Prechtl HF. Prechtl's assessment of general movements: a diagnostic tool for the functional assessment of the young nervous system. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev. 2005;11(1):61-7. doi: 10.1002/mrdd.20051.

    PMID: 15856440BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Premature Birth

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Obstetric Labor, PrematureObstetric Labor ComplicationsPregnancy ComplicationsFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital Diseases

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant professor, Principal investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 28, 2023

First Posted

April 28, 2023

Study Start

March 1, 2024

Primary Completion

May 1, 2025

Study Completion

July 31, 2025

Last Updated

March 6, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-03

Locations