Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Approaches for Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts motor, sensory, and autonomic functions, affecting thousands of individuals globally each year. Despite extensive research, effective therapies are lacking due to the complex pathophysiology of SCI, hindering functional repair and regeneration. Recent studies have begun to uncover the intricate mechanisms involved in SCI, leading to the development of new therapeutic approaches. These strategies aim to modulate secondary injury events, promote neuroprotection, and facilitate neuroregeneration for functional recovery. A successful therapy might target different pathologic events to control the progression of secondary damage of SCI and promote regeneration leading to functional recovery.

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  Early surgical decompression (<24 h) resulted in better neurological recovery compared to late surgery (≥24 h) in cervical SCI patients.
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  Molecular approaches focus on modulating specific secondary events to promote neuroprotection or neuroregeneration, targeting vascular alterations, excitotoxicity, metabolic imbalances, and inflammation.
• 3
  Innovative approaches such as cell-based therapies, biomaterials, and electrical stimulation show promise in promoting spinal cord regeneration and functional recovery after SCI.