Science & Technology

Doctors cure man's paralysis in world first

By T.K. Randall
October 21, 2014 ·  18 comments

A model showing segments of the human spinal cord. Image Credit: PD - Tom Sulcer The 38-year-old had been paralyzed from the waist down after an injury four years ago but has since regained the ability to walk with the aid of a frame and can now even drive a car.

The pioneering surgical procedure that made this possible was based on the research of scientists at the University College London's institute of neurology and was carried out by a team from Poland lead by one of the world's top spinal surgeons.The technique involved taking nerve-supporting cells from the patient's nose and injecting them in to the areas above and below the spinal injury to provide pathways for the broken tissue to regrow.

"We believe that this procedure is the breakthrough which, as it is further developed, will result in a historic change in the currently hopeless outlook for people disabled by spinal cord injury," said Professor Geoffrey Raisman. "The patient is now able to move around the hips and on the left side he's experienced considerable recovery of the leg muscles."

"The number of patients who are completely paralysed is enormous. If we can convince the global neurosurgeon community that this works then it will develop very rapidly indeed."

Source: The Guardian | Comments (18)

Tags: Paralysis, Spine