Validation of the Zigzag Tracking Task Test for the Evaluation of Handwriting Difficulties in Writer's Cramp (LabyDys)

Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Dystonic Disorder

Treatments: Other: Validation of a handwriting scale

Study type: Observational

Funder types: NETWORK

Identifiers

NCT02882295

SSA_2016_10

Details and patient eligibility

About

Writer's cramp (WC) is a task specific dystonia that occurs from the moment patient starts writing. It leads to partial or complete inability to use the hand only during the handwriting gesture. It is characterized by the appearance of cramps or spasms of certain muscles of the hand and/or forearm.

Clinical scales currently use for the assessment of WC fail to accurately reflect changes in the characteristics of handwriting in response to treatments (Botulinum Neurotoxin injections and / or retraining therapy).

The Zigzag Tracking Task (ZZTT), easy to use in current practice provides useful information in terms of speed and precision of handwriting gesture. This timed handwriting test is to follow with a pen a zigzag path beset with obstacles to avoid. It permits to evaluate the time in seconds required to carry out the zigzag path and count the number of errors (output path and contacts with obstacles). The investigators propose to validate the ZZTT for the assessment of the handwriting gesture of WC.

Enrollment: 23 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• scholarship in French language, at least until 16 years old
• writer's cramp (diagnostic confirmed by a neurologist specialized in movement disorders)
• prescription of botulinum neurotoxin injection
• prescription de novo or absence of injection in the last 3 months
• informed consent
• medical insurance coverage

Exclusion criteria

• writing tremor
• -other neurological disease with effect on handwriting
• pain or traumatism of the upper limb, with effect on handwriting
• non-corrected visual disturbances
• patient living outside the region where the study will be held (Ile-de-France)
• participation in another research with a potential impact on evaluation criteria
• pregnant or breast feeding patient
• patient under judiciary protection

Trial design

23 participants in 2 patient groups

writer's cramp

Description:

patients assessed without, then with Botulinum Neurotoxin injections

Treatment:

Other: Validation of a handwriting scale

control

Description:

age and gender matched

Treatment:

Other: Validation of a handwriting scale