Can the Phoenix Sign be Elicited With D5W

NCT07568470 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: USNC
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 600
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

To determine if the Phoenix sign can be reliably elicited with non-guided subcutaneous infiltration of D5W (5% Dextrose in Water) in patients with subclinical weakness of the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) muscle.

Conditions

Drop Foot

Keywords

Drop Foot, Nerve Blocks

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Changes in motor strength of dorsiflexion of the anterior and lateral compartments of the lower extremity

  Each subject will receive the infiltration and then be assessed for any changes in motor strength at 4 and 10 minutes after the injection.

  From enrollment to end of their treatment at 1 day

• Presence of absence of increase in motor strength of the lower extremity in dorsiflexion

  Using manual motor testing the strength of the lower extremity in dorsiflexion will be evaluated with a score of 1-5 out of 5.

  From enrollment to the end of the day

• Number of subjects that have increased dorsiflexion strength after D5W infiltration

  Subjects will be evaluated by manual motor testing of the patient before and after infiltration of D5W on a 1 to 5 out of 5 mother strength grading.

  Enrollment to end of clinic vist in 1 hour

Study Arms (1)

Infiltration of D5W

EXPERIMENTAL

3 cc's of D5W will be infiltrated subcutaneously at the level of the fibular neck to see if there is any improvement in dorsiflexion strength at 4 and 10 minutes post infiltration.

Drug: Infiltration of D5W

Interventions

Infiltration of D5W DRUG

There is no other intervention.

Infiltration of D5W

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• subjects must have a weakness of dorsiflexion and specifically of the Extensor Hallucis Longus muscle
• drop foot

You may not qualify if:

• Trypanaphobia
• allergy to D5W

Sponsors & Collaborators

• US Neuropathy Centers: lead

Study Sites (1)

US Neuropathy Centers

Marietta, Georgia, 30067, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Peroneal Neuropathies

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mononeuropathies; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases

Study Officials

• Stephen L Barrett, DPM MBA

  US Neuropathy Centers LLC

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principle Investigator

Model Details: To test the hypothesis that the phoenix sign can be elicited with non-guided subcutaneous infiltration of D5W 20 Clinics/research sites with 30 consecutive patients would then account for 600 patients. Each clinic/researcher will evaluate 30 consecutive patients regardless of what pathology they are presenting to the clinic with, for EHL strength bilaterally. This compilation would then allow for a calculation of how many (what percentage) of them actually had a subclinical weakness. If there is a 10% incidence of subclinical weakness, then 60 patients would be enrolled in the study for evaluation of the effect of non-guided subcutaneous infiltration of D5W. Every patient that has documented weakness based on simple muscle grading of the EHL in this group would then ideally be enrolled into the clinical study.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 5, 2026
• First Posted: May 5, 2026
• Study Start: April 10, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2027
• Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)