Regenerative medicine strategies for chronic complete spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) damages the spinal cord, leading to paralysis. While regenerative medicine has advanced, treatments for chronic, severe injuries are lacking. This review explores combination therapies to address the complex challenges of chronic complete SCI, focusing on strategies to promote neural regeneration and functional recovery. Chronic complete SCI presents significant hurdles due to various inhibitors of neural regeneration. Effective treatment likely requires a combination of therapies targeting different pathologies, such as scar tissue, cavitation, inflammation, and axon regeneration. The review discusses approaches like cell transplantation, drug-releasing scaffolds, and interventions to modify the spinal cord environment. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring treatments to the specific challenges of chronic complete SCI to achieve functional recovery.

• 1
  Chronic complete SCI requires a combination of therapies to overcome multiple inhibitory factors and promote functional recovery.
• 2
  Strategies to address scar formation, spinal cord cavitation, inflammation, and axon elongation are crucial for treating chronic complete SCI.
• 3
  Cell transplantation alone is often insufficient; improving the spinal cord microenvironment and enhancing the efficacy of transplanted cells are essential.