A spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that transmits messages to and fro from the brain and the rest of the body. A traumatic spinal cord injury can either result in just a slight bruise, a fractional tear, or a complete transaction of the spinal cord. A spinal cord injury can result in permanent disability or the cause of death in patients and thus need immediate spinal cord treatment to avoid dire consequences.
Causes of spinal cord injury
An injury to a spinal cord occurs when the area of the spine is bent or compressed due to the following reasons:
- Injuries that affect the spinal cord or the neck area during birth
- A fall
- Road accidents
- Sport injuries
- Gunshot or deep stab wounds
Symptoms of a spinal cord injury
An individual may have different symptoms according to the severity and location injury to the spine that result in the loss of muscle function in all the limbs, paralysis or loss of function in areas below the site of injury. Hence, the extent of the spinal cord damage determines if the damage is complete or incomplete. In a complete injury is no movement or sensation below the area of the injury and in an incomplete injury there is still some movement below the site of the injury.Few of the symptoms found in people with spinal cord injury, are:
- Loss of muscle movement in limbs and the chest
- Muscle weakness
- Breathing problems
- Loss of bowel and bladder function
Treatment for spinal cord injury
The treatment for an acute spinal cord injury is determined by a doctor based on the individual’s:
- The age and health
- The extent of the injury
- Whether the injury is complete or incomplete
A spinal cord injury requires emergency medical attention. Cell therapy is a promising spinal cord treatment that treats using mesenchymal stem cells harvested from the individual’s own bone marrow. These cells have the property to prevent inflammatory responses that can lead to cell death. Cell treatment is also favourable for neuro-protective approaches that limit further tissue loss. Cellular therapy is a sure means of accomplishing spinal cord treatment by repopulating the lost cells & glia and for increasing natural regenerative of new cells. The treatment can lead to tissue regeneration and growth of sensory motor axons to promote repair in the injured spinal cord.
Cell treatment is carried out at NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute under the guidance of the neurosurgeons and their proficient team. They work to pursue the cause of restoring the functions of the spinal cord with the stem cell derived from the bone marrow. Spinal cord treatment with stem cells is a simple process that does not require the person to go under the knife. The marrow is aspirated from the hip bone of the person, under local anaesthesia, with the help of a bone marrow aspiration needle. This procedure takes about 15 to 30 minutes.
The aspirated marrow is filtered with a density gradient centrifugation method to procure the stem cells from the marrow. These acquired cells are diluted in CFS before being infused in the person using an intrathecal injection. These stem cells support anatomical/functional recovery and support axon regeneration
Post spinal cord treatment, the doctor’s also involves physical therapies and the use of assisted devices to help the person carry with their daily activities.
