New hope for some spinal cord injury victims

New Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries

When you are involved in a serious car accident, there is a risk that your spinal cord will be injured. Nearly 18,000 Americans suffer from a spinal cord injury every year. Because the spinal cord consists of cells and nerves that transmit signals to the rest of your body, a severe injury may result in mobility problems and paralysis.

Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury

The seriousness of your disability following a spinal cord injury depends on where the injury took place as well as the severity of it. If the injury occurs along the uppermost portion of your spinal cord, paralysis is possible throughout most of the body. When the injury affects the lower portion of your spinal cord, paralysis may be limited to your lower body and legs. It is possible for spinal cord injuries to damage anywhere from a few to all of the many nerve fibers that are spread across the area of impact. If hardly any nerve cells have died, you may be able to recover completely with the right treatments. The many signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury include:

• Numbness or tingling
• Pain in head and neck
• Loss of movement
• Inability to move the body
• Loss of bowel control
• Difficulty breathing

Renewed Interest in Spinal Cord Solutions

In early 2021, a 16-year-old living in Chico, California was injured in a major accident. He was working on an engine for his vintage truck and ended up pulling part of the power train. However, he hadn't remembered to put blocks around the tires to keep the vehicle secure, which resulted in the truck moving forward and crushing him. After being taken to a nearby hospital, the doctors immediately noticed that his injuries were severe and required specialized care, which is when he was transferred to the UC Davis Medical Center to undergo surgery. Since that accident, he has been paralyzed below the waist. Soon after the accident, surgeons from UC Davis Health asked him if he would like to participate in a clinical trial surrounding a new solution for regenerating a person's spinal cord. He readily accepted the offer.

New Clinical Study by UC Davis Health

This clinical trial involves placing an absorbable biopolymer scaffold around the area where the injury took place. The goal of this study is to improve spinal cord function at a faster rate than is otherwise possible. While the patient has been in the trial for two years, he's unsure if he is in the group that obtains the treatment or in the control group that doesn't. While the human trials are still ongoing, animal trials have already been successful. During this clinical trial, 16 people between the ages of 16 and 70 were selected to participate. All of them suffered from serious injuries along the thoracic portion of the spinal column, which extends from the base of the neck to the lowermost portion of the rib cage. There are 12 vertebrae in this area. The scaffold that is placed along the injured portion of the spinal cord is made with a porous device that can be naturally absorbed by the body. After the initial six months of this study, UC Davis Health stated that the patients who had obtained this treatment experienced a slightly faster rate of healing when compared to patients who didn't. Recently, a 24-month report came out that indicated people with this solution improved at an even more encouraging rate. Over that time, there have been no serious complications with any participants in the study. The researchers at UC Davis Health hope that patients will be able to improve to the point where they will no longer need a wheelchair to get around.

Legal Options Following a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries are possible regardless of the type of accident you are involved in. Because of how serious this type of injury is, surgery and other forms of medical treatment may be necessary to limit the damage. Over time, the costs of these treatments can add up. If another party caused this injury because of their negligence or an intentional act, they may be liable. The different types of compensation that people seek when filing a personal injury lawsuit include everything from medical expenses and lost wages to emotional pain and suffering. An Allentown personal injury lawyer can discuss your specific situation and its potential for compensation. If you have been injured in any type of accident and believe that someone else was at fault, you may have the ability to seek compensation. Call our Allentown personal injury lawyer today at (610) 435-7400 to discuss your case in more detail.