History and Accomplishments of the North American Clinical Trials Network for Spinal Cord Injury, 2004-2022.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-2023
Abstract
This is a historical account of the origin and accomplishments of the North American Clinical Trials Network (NACTN) for traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), which was established in 2004 by Christopher Reeve and Robert Grossman. Christopher Reeve was an actor who became quadriplegic and started the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation (CDRF), and Robert Grossman was a neurosurgeon experienced in neurotrauma and a university professor in Houston. NACTN has member investigators at university and military centers in North America and has contributed greatly to the improvement of care, primarily acute care, of patients sustaining traumatic SCI. Its accomplishments are a clinical registry database of >1000 acute SCI patients documenting the care pathways, including complications. NACTN has assessed the effectiveness of treatment, including pharmacotherapy and the role and timing of surgery, and has also identified barriers to early surgery. The principal focus has been on improving neurological recovery. NACTN has trained many SCI practitioners and has collaborated with other SCI networks and organizations internationally to promote the care of SCI patients.
Volume
40
Issue
17-18
First Page
1823
Last Page
1833
ISSN
1557-9042
Published In/Presented At
Tator, C. H., Guest, J. D., Neal, C. J., Howley, S. P., Toups, E. G., Harrop, J. S., Aarabi, B., Shaffrey, C. I., & Fehlings, M. G. (2023). History and Accomplishments of the North American Clinical Trials Network for Spinal Cord Injury, 2004-2022. Journal of neurotrauma, 40(17-18), 1823–1833. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2022.0404
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
36515162
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article