Category Archives: Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

STORY HIGHLIGHTS (CNN) -- A ground-breaking cell transplant has allowed a paralyzed man to walk again, researchers announced Tuesday. Polish man Darek Fidyka, 38, had been left paralyzed from the chest down after a 2010 knife attack caused an 8mm gap in his spinal cord. An initial 13 months of rehabilitation followed by an additional 8-month program before the experimental treatment had not produced an improvement in his condition, researchers said. But two years after the 2012 cell transplant he can walk with the aid of a Zimmer frame, also known as a walker. Scientists at University College London (UCL) developed the treatment, which saw olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) from the nose transplanted to Fidyka's spinal cord. OECs are what allow the sense of smell to return when nerve cells in the nose are damaged. Surgeons at Wroclaw University in Poland led by Dr Pawel Tabakow injected the OECs above and below Fidyka's spinal cord gap, then used nerve tissue taken from his ankle to act as a bridge for spinal nerves to grow across, UCL said. The underlying idea is 'can we get something out of an area where repair works and transfer it into an area where repair … Continue reading →

San Antonio, Texas (PRWEB) November 24, 2014 The top pain management clinics in San Antonio, Premier Pain Consultants, are now offering revolutionary spinal cord stimulator implants. The cutting edge treatment has been incredible for back and leg pain relief in patients who are suffering from chronic pain and need a last resort option. Call (210) 202-4030 for more information and scheduling. For patients who have failed back surgery or postlaminectomy syndrome, it can be exceptionally frustrating to deal with the need to take chronic pain medications. Patients may suffer with inability to work, play with one's kids or participate in recreational activities. If further surgery is not an option, then the spinal cord stimulator implant can "mask" pain, and change it to a tingling feeling rather than a painful one. The mantra is if one's back pain does not have a surgical option, then the best therapy may be to find an option to mask the pain. For those patients with peripheral or diabetic neuropathy, the leg pain may be unbearable. Studies on spinal cord stimulator implants have shown 75% excellent results for both neuropathy pain and back pain from failed surgery. Postlaminectomy syndrome and postherpetic neuralgia pain responds well … Continue reading →

Spinal cord injury is currently incurable and treatment is limited to minimising secondary complications and maximising residual function by rehabilitation. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury and the factors that prevent nerve and tissue repair has fuelled a move towards more ambitious experimental treatments aimed at promoting neuroprotection, axonal regeneration, and neuroplasticity. By necessity, these new options are more invasive. However, in view of recent advances in spinal cord injury research and demand from patients, clinicians, and the scientific community to push promising experimental treatments to the clinic, momentum and optimism exist for the translation of candidate experimental treatments to clinical spinal cord injury. The ability to rescue, reactivate, and rewire spinal systems to restore function after spinal cord injury might soon be within reach. Read more from the original source: Restoring function after spinal cord injury: towards clinical translation of experimental strategies … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 18-Nov-2014 Contact: Jeannette Spalding jeannette.spalding@case.edu 216-368-3004 Case Western Reserve University @casenews Case Western Reserve researchers have developed a procedure that restores function to muscles involved in the control of breathing - even when they have been paralyzed for more than a year. The breakthrough offers hope that one day patients with severe spinal cord injuries will be able to breathe again without the assistance of a ventilator. Principal investigator Philippa M. Warren, PhD, presented the results Nov. 17 at Neuroscience 2014, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. The research represents a critical step forward in efforts to reverse even long-term paralysis of muscles within the diaphragm that are activated by nerve fibers that extend from the upper part of the brain stem. When those fibers are damaged in the spinal cord, electrical signals from the brain cannot reach motor nerves that leave the spinal cord to activate muscles that control vital functions. This new research offers a two-step approach to repair the part of the damage that blocks those signals. "We show that respiratory paralysis can be reversed at long intervals after spinal cord injury," said Warren, a neurosciences researcher at MetroHealth Medical Center, which … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise Case Western Reserve researchers have developed a procedure that restores function to muscles involved in the control of breathing even when they have been paralyzed for more than a year. The breakthrough offers hope that one day patients with severe spinal cord injuries will be able to breathe again without the assistance of a ventilator. Principal investigator Philippa M. Warren, PhD, presented the results Nov. 17 at Neuroscience 2014, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. The research represents a critical step forward in efforts to reverse even long-term paralysis of muscles within the diaphragm that are activated by nerve fibers that extend from the upper part of the brain stem. When those fibers are damaged in the spinal cord, electrical signals from the brain cannot reach motor nerves that leave the spinal cord to activate muscles that control vital functions. This new research offers a two-step approach to repair the part of the damage that blocks those signals. We show that respiratory paralysis can be reversed at long intervals after spinal cord injury, said Warren, a neurosciences researcher at MetroHealth Medical Center, which is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University … Continue reading →

Spinal cord injury: Introduction Spinal cord injury: Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when a traumatic event results in damage to cells within the spinal cord or severs the nerve tracts that ... more about Spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injury: Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord as a result of a direct trauma to the spinal cord itself or as a result of indirect damage to the bones and soft tissues and vessels surrounding the spinal cord. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Spinal cord injury is available below. See full list of 12 symptoms of Spinal cord injury See full list of 8 treatments for Spinal cord injury Home medical testing related to Spinal cord injury: Read more about Deaths and Spinal cord injury. Read more about Types of Spinal cord injury Review possible medical complications related to Spinal cord injury: See full list of 6 causes of Spinal cord injury See the original post here: Spinal cord injury Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and ... … Continue reading →

There are a variety of treatment and surgery options for Spinal Cord Injury depending on the affected area of the spine. Spinal cord injury is the result of a traumatic injury such as a bruise or contusion, a partial tear or a complete tear in the spinal cord. It can also result indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues or blood vessels. Spinal Cord Injury Diagnosis Spinal cord injuries are very serious. If you are suffering from any symptoms of spinal cord injury, it is very important to seek immediate medical attention. In order to diagnose your condition, your doctor will perform both a physical and neurological exam. If the location of the injury is not known, one of more of these tests will help locate the exact point of injury: Nonsurgical Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury Since spinal cord injury is such a serious and time-sensitive condition, it is critical to seek treatment as soon as possible. Time between injury and treatment will have a huge impact on the outcome. Some nonsurgical treatment options for spinal cord injury include: Surgery for Spinal Cord Injury In many cases, spinal cord surgery is necessary to remove bone fragments, herniated discs, foreign … Continue reading →

The case of Darek Fidyka has made headlines around the world. A pioneering new surgery has given him his legs back, in what scientist believe the first-ever instance of renewed nerve growth in a person with a spinal cord injury. But the interesting thing is the surgery could easily have happened in New Zealand, and it could still. We have the technology, the expertise and we certainly have the candidates. One such person is Caleb Harcus. He's classified as an incomplete quadriplegic, meaning that he still has some function in his arms, even though all his limbs are affected in some way. What's more is he is in the financial position to fund this research. So why isn't it happening? Mr Harcus can't remember what he was thinking about as he walked to work on Guy Fawkes morning four years ago. It's unlikely he was thinking about the act of walking, the simple miracle of putting one foot in front of the other. He probably wasn't thinking about the passing traffic, and he certainly never thought an out-of-control truck would take away his ability to walk forever. "I woke up six weeks later and I looked at the ceiling and … Continue reading →

Nano cap InVivo Therapeutics (OTCQB:NVIV) continued its up move today with shares rising38%on a 10x surge in volume. Prices have almost tripled in a month as investor interest builds over its Neuro-Spinal Scaffold for the treatment of acute spinal cord injury. The first patient to receive the device is a 25-year old Scottsdale, AZ man who broke his back in a dirt bike accident last month. Although it's too early to gauge the success of the implant some researchers and clinicians believe it has great promise. In late October, the FDA approved an expansion of clinical trial sites from six to 20 and broadened patient eligibility criteria. After today's action, InVivo's market cap is $133M which is comparable to other regenerative medicine firms working on spinal cord injury therapies. For comparison purposes, the market valuations of Neuralstem (NYSEMKT:CUR), Asterias Biotherapeutics (NYSEMKT:AST) and StemCells (NASDAQ:STEM) are $256M, $125M and $80M, respectively. Share this with a colleague Go here to see the original: InVivo Therapeutics … Continue reading →

Fortis Healthcares Centre of Excellence for Neuro Science has been one of the most modern and comprehensive medical centres in the country for over two decades. Our team of over 100 doctors, spread across the 80 hospitals of the Fortis Healthcare network, is committed to addressing the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of those who come to us with diseases that affect the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. The Fortis Centre of Neurology, an initiative of Fortis Healthcares Centre of Excellence for Neuro Science, is one of the leading centres in India for the treatment of Epilepsy. It also treats Headaches, Movement Disorders, Neuroimmunological disorders & Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromuscular disease, and Stroke, & has facilities for Neurocritical care. The Fortis Centre of Neurosurgerys multifaceted programs encompass removal of brain tumours, treatment for neurovascular diseases, functional disorders, pain, trauma and other complex conditions requiring surgical intervention. We are developing promising protocols for neurological diseases that are extremely difficult to treat with conventional therapies. The Fortis Spine Centre offers comprehensive non-surgical and surgical treatment for the full spectrum of spinal disorders including degenerative conditions of the spine, such as cervical or lumbar spinal stenosis, cervical or lumbar disc herniation, and … Continue reading →