Spinal cord injuries can have a devastating impact on a person’s life and livelihood. These injuries can be permanent and may have no permanent cure.
Treatment for spinal cord injuries typically involves the management of decreased mobility and movement in patients. New studies recently, however, have shown a promising way forward in spinal injury treatment.
Scientists recently experimented on mice using an injectable therapy involving nanofibers to cover the damaged spinal tissue after the injury. The injections comprise of liquid nanogels that cover the damaged area, and create an environment that is very similar to the natural cellular environment. The nanofibers are able to mimic the natural movement of the cells, thereby promoting healing in these areas. The researchers found extraordinary results with the use of the therapy. After just about three to four weeks of the therapy, the mice were able to walk, and most of the damage was reversed.
This study was conducted on mice, but the results of the study are astounding enough to provide a glimmer of hope that similar results will be seen on human subjects as well. The impact on persons who have suffered a spinal injury therefore could be immense. As many as 300,000 people have a spinal injury in the United States, and most of them suffer from varying degrees of impacted mobility and movement. Spinal injuries are typically caused in car accidents, slip and fall accidents, motorcycle accidents, as a result of gunshots or violence or any other kind of trauma.
Typically, when a person suffers a spinal injury, surgeons will first stabilize the area as much as possible, and work on repairing the damaged tissue. However, they may be unable to do much to actually heal the injured area of the spinal cord. The new therapy provides hope that surgeons will be able to protect the damaged spinal cord area. The therapy can also help promote healing, and because the nanogels are made of natural peptides, they may simply dissolve on their own without causing any side effects. This makes the therapy very safe, with a minimal risk of complications.
The results of the study were published recently in the journal Science. The researchers advise caution against excessive optimism about the potential success of any such trials on human beings. According to them, very often, animal trials do not translate into successful human trials. However, the concept is brilliant, and is something that should provide some hope for the future.
Life after a spinal cord injury can be extremely challenging. Depending on the degree of paralysis that the person has suffered, the injury may impact his ability to lead a normal life and perform routine activities. Any car accident claim after a spinal cord injury, therefore, must take into consideration not just the person’s immediate and long-term medical expenses, but also the impact of his injuries on the quality of his life.
If you or a loved one have suffered a spinal cord injury in a car accident character, talk to a lawyer about whether you have legal grounds to a claim for damages. The Atlanta car accident lawyers at the Katz Personal Injury Lawyers represent persons injured as a result of auto and car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across Georgia.