Overview
Description
Eligibility
- Traumatic motor-complete SCI C4-L2 (AIS grade A & B);
- Duration of SCI less than 6 months;
- Males and females (premenopausal) between the ages of 18 and 50 years old; and a safe range of BMD right above the knee as determined by study staff review;
- Active and/or history of coronary heart disease or stroke;
- Bone cancer;
- Long-bone fracture of the leg within the past year;
- History of prior bone disease (for example, Paget's hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis, etc.);
- Postmenopausal women;
- Men with known low functioning tests before SCI;
- Drugs geared toward increasing BMD longer than a six month duration after SCI;
- As determined by study staff review of my medication history of glucocorticoid administration longer than three months duration within the last year
- Abnormalities of my endocrine glands such as hyperthyroidism, Cushing's disease or syndrome, etc.;
- Severe underlying chronic disease (for example chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), end-stage heart disease, chronic renal failure);
- Heterotopic ossification (HO) of the distal femur (the knee end of the thigh bone). HO is a condition where bone tissue forms outside of the skeleton. If HO is found in any other area than the distal femur it will not prevent my participation in the study.;
- History of chronic alcohol abuse;
- Diagnosis of hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood);
- Pregnancy;
- As determined by study staff review of my medications a bisphosphonate for heterotopic ossification (HO), or other medications to treat osteoporosis other than calcium and vitamin D;
- Current diagnosis of cancer or history of cancer;
- As determined by study staff review of my medications, prescribed moderate or high dose corticosteroids (>40 mg/d prednisone or an equivalent dose of other corticosteroid medication) for longer than one week, not including drug administered to preserve neurological function at the time of acute SCI; and
- Life expectancy less than 5 years.