A recent clinical trial at the Mayo Clinic in the United States has indicated that an innovative stem cell transplant treatment for traumatic spinal cord injuries is not only safe but also presents encouraging results for patient recovery. The phase I clinical trial, which involved a single-dose spinal injection, reported improvement in movement and sensation for 7 out of 10 paralyzed patients.
Despite the optimism, the researchers acknowledged that the therapy’s success greatly depends on the type and severity of the injury; with predictions suggesting that only approximately 5% of thoracic spine injuries would see benefits from this procedure. Even so, according to neurosurgical experts, any slight enhancement can substantially enhance a patient’s quality of life.
Stem cell transplants, considered to be at the forefront of medical treatments, involve harvesting a patient’s own stem cells, amplifying them in a laboratory, and then reinjecting them into the injured spine. These mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to regenerate various bodily tissues, including those of the central nervous system.
The stem cell injections are particularly promising for patients who have limited treatment options. The anticipation of these therapies contributing to healing processes generates excitement but is met with a cautious approach due to scientific scrutiny. Other small clinical trials have also indicated the treatment’s safety and efficacy, though many in the scientific community argue that these studies lack the comprehensiveness and duration required to fully validate such claims.
Source: ScienceAlert