The implantation of electrodes in the spine allows 3 patients with complete spinal cord injuries to walk again.
The implantation of electrodes in the spine allows 3 patients with complete spinal cord injuries to walk again.
The journal Nature Medicine published an article this week with the results of a new treatment that opens the possibility for people with complete spinal cord injury to walk again. This study was carried out by the Lausanne Federal Polytechnic School and Lausanne Hospital and led by neuroscientist Grégoire Courtine and Dr. Jocelyne Bloch, performed on three patients aged 29, 32 and 41 who have been implanted with a device with electrodes in the spine connected to a pacemaker in the abdomen that stimulate the nerves that control the muscles of the legs and allow to walk these patients again after 5 months of rehabilitation.
The results are very different from similar studies performed previously, as from the first day of the operation the patients were able to get up and stand up straight and with months of training and rehabilitation they walked, swam and pedaled again. The idea is now to conduct a clinical trial with 50 patients and in the near future be able to make these advances in the market.
As a center of specialization and reference in the treatment of complex spinal cord injuries, various media have contacted the Guttmann Institute to contextualize and evaluate this news of international scope. "It's an extraordinary job of neuroengineering," said Dr. Josep M Tormos in statements to La Vanguardia, and continues “I see no reason why this technology cannot be applied in the future in Catalonia.” In statements to TV3, Dr. Jesús Benito said that for the first time it is very promising results.
"This news opens the door to an ever-closer scenario, where we will have implantable neuroprostheses capable of helping to regain motor control in spinal cord injury," says Dr. Tormos in the analysis article he signed for La Vanguardia.
In the following links we share some interventions in the media based on the news:
- Dr. Benito - Tot es mou de TV3.
- Dr. Benito - TN Vespre de TV3.
- Dr. Tormos - La Vanguardia.
- Dr. Vidal - El món a RAC1.
- Dr. Tormos - Aquí, amb Josep Cuní
- Dr. Tormos - La Cope.
- Dr. Benito - Ràdio Estel.
- Dr. Vidal - Onda Cero.
