Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40507687›Full record

ArticleJournal of clinical medicine2025

Recruitment Challenges in Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial for Motor Recovery in Patients with Chronic Complete Spinal Cord Injury.

Fatimah Misbaah, Wen Li Lui, Zhi Yan Valerie Ng, Seng Kwee Wee, Min Wee Phua, Rosa Q So, Brian Premchand, Kezia Susanto, Seyed Ehsan Saffari, Rui Xin Justin Ker and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of clinical medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Fatimah MisbaahDepartment of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore.
Wen Li LuiDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0003-3205-8453
Zhi Yan Valerie NgDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0002-4163-6190
Seng Kwee WeeDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0002-5206-6269
Min Wee PhuaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore.ORCID 0009-0004-8758-9889
Rosa Q SoInstitute for Infocomm Research, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138632, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0002-9050-9059
Brian PremchandInstitute for Infocomm Research, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138632, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0003-3373-8362
Kezia SusantoInstitute for Infocomm Research, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138632, Singapore.ORCID 0009-0009-3466-1935
Seyed Ehsan SaffariCenter for Quantitative Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119077, Singapore.ORCID 0000-0002-6473-4375
Rui Xin Justin KerDepartment of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore.
Wai Hoe NgDepartment of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore.
Kai Rui WanDepartment of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore.

Funding

National Medical Research Council MOH-CNIG21nov-0006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Recruiting participants for clinical trials targeting specific populations, like patients with chronic motor complete spinal cord injuries (SCIs), is challenging. The RESTORES trial evaluated spinal cord stimulation (SCS) combined with robotic neurorehabilitation for motor recovery in this population. This feasibility study enrolled three participants to assess SCS implant safety, synergistic effects of SCS and robotic rehabilitation, and clinical outcomes. Key recruitment barriers included the small patient pool, stringent eligibility criteria, patient skepticism, and logistical and emotional challenges. Strategies to address these challenges encompassed multidisciplinary collaborations with clinical centers, SCI associations, and patient support groups, including pre-surgical counselling and transparent communication. A dedicated clinical research coordinator ensured ethical compliance, logistical support, and participant engagement. Travel reimbursements, family involvement, and peer advocacy fostered accessibility and trust. Of the 115 patients screened, only 3 met the strict eligibility criteria, due to high screening failure rates and participant apprehension. Peer testimonials and family support helped enhance motivation and adherence. Ethical safeguards, like a data safety monitoring board, ensured participant safety and transparency. The RESTORES trial underscores the complexity of recruiting for pioneering interventions while highlighting the importance of tailored, patient-centric strategies. Insights gained will inform future trials and contribute to advancing SCI rehabilitation, offering hope for enhanced neurological recovery and quality of life for individuals with chronic motor complete SCI.

Indexed as

clinical research coordinatoreligibility criteriaepidural spinal stimulationneurorehabilitationneurosurgerypatient apprehensionrecruitment challengesresearch ethicsspinal cord injury

Identifiers

PMID40507687
PMCPMC12156814

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.