In a groundbreaking medical study, a revolutionary experimental treatment has enabled a former surfer to regain mobility and independence after he suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed seven years ago. Chris Barr, known as ‘Patient No. 1’ in the study, has made remarkable strides towards recovery, attributing his newfound abilities to walk and feed himself to a pioneering stem cell therapy.
The pioneering treatment entails extracting stem cells from a patient’s own abdominal fat and then injecting them into the damaged sections of the spinal cord. The goal is to facilitate the restoration of functions lost due to spinal injuries. This experimental approach has shown promising results in a recent study, with a significant number of patients demonstrating positive recovery trajectories.
Published in the prestigious journal, Nature Communications, the research documented the progress of ten patients, and observed that seven of them exhibited notable improvements in their conditions. The study’s author, Dr. Mohamad Bydon of the Mayo Clinic, expressed optimism about integrating this stem cell therapy with other treatments to yield even more effective results for spinal cord injuries.
Dr. Bydon spearheaded research that reported measurable enhancements using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale. This included better sensation to pinprick and light touches, as well as improved muscle strength and autonomous bowel movement. The study’s participants ranged from 18 to 65 years old, suffering from a variety of spinal injuries.
Source: The Independent