Combined Treatments and Therapies to Cure Spinal Cord Injury

Biomedicines, 2024 · DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051095 · Published: May 15, 2024

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine Neurology

Simple Explanation

Traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCIs) often lead to permanent motor, sensitive, and sphincter deficits, with no available treatment to date. Research is focusing on modulating spinal scar and inflammation, inducing the regrowth/survival of the motor and sensitive axons, and promoting new functional connections between the brain and spinal cord. This Special Issue provides an overview of the latest research on spinal cord injuries, both in animals and in SCI patients.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

SCI patients and animal models

Evidence Level

Overview of research papers and literature reviews

Key Findings

1
Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) coupled with inspiratory muscle training (IMT) increases patients’ respiratory capacity, whereas IMT alone does not.
2
Human mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in a rat model of SCI increased neuronal survival at the site of injury.
3
Combining electrotherapy with kinesiotherapy and rTMS with kinesiotherapy leads to better patient outcomes.

Research Summary

This Special Issue includes six research papers and five literature reviews dealing exclusively with cell transplantation, neuromodulation, and physiotherapy techniques. The various published articles highlight promising techniques such as cell transplantation and neuromodulation. These different studies and reviews demonstrate, if it were still necessary, that future treatments must combine various complementary approaches in order to effectively treat this devastating pathology.

Practical Implications

Combined Therapies

Future treatments for spinal cord injuries should integrate multiple complementary approaches for better efficacy.

Neuromodulation Potential

Neuromodulation techniques, like tSCS and rTMS, show promise in improving respiratory function and patient outcomes when combined with other therapies.

Stem Cell Therapy

Cell transplantation, particularly with mesenchymal stem cells, holds potential for promoting neuronal survival after SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Animal model results may not fully translate to human clinical trials.
2
Implementation of some strategies may be difficult in humans.
3
Efficacy of some treatments has not been consistently demonstrated in clinical trials.

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