Paralyzed Man Stands Again after Spinal Cord Injury Due to Epidural Neurostimulator

Orange County, CA - April 5th 2017 -  Spinal cord injuries often cause permanent loss of function and feeling below the site of injury. These traumatic incidents often result from damage to the vertebrae, disks, or ligaments of the spinal column. Most often, car and motorcycle accidents are the cause, accounting for more than thirty five percent of spinal cord injuries each year. Rehabilitation and therapy is often sought after to cope with the pain and loss of physical independence and mobility, but the diagnosis is irreversible. Treatments to ease symptoms include painkillers and surgeries to help alleviate the spine from further trauma.

For the last decade clinical scientists have been working on paralysis treatment, but a new trial reveals a potential breakthrough in the field. A man paralyzed by a spinal cord injury is now able to make step-like motions while lying down and has the ability to stand with balance assistance. The break in the trial comes from an electrode array- a pattern of electrodes used for measuring either an electric current or voltage. Some electrode arrays, like the one used in this case study, are used to provide a stimulating arrangement of electric currents or voltage. The electrode array was implanted into the epidural space- the outermost part of the spinal canal- and below the injury site.

With eight stimulation sessions over a two week period the man was able to achieve stepping motions. To maintain the improvement stemming from the implant surgery regular stimulations and physical therapy sessions were scheduled for further analysis.

Paralyzed Man Stands Again after Spinal Cord Injury Due to Epidural Neurostimulator

In a similar trial, 28 year old Kent Stephenson was a competitive motocross racer who attempted to land an 80-foot tabletop jump. Unsuccessful the accident left him motionless and with no feeling from the chest down. After a year of ineffective rehabilitation therapy, he enrolled in a clinical trial at the Frazier Rehab Institute in Louisville KY. An epidural stimulator was implanted on his spinal cord to generate brain signals to send to the spinal cord in hopes to initiate movement. By implementing this device only one trial was necessary and had the successful outcome of leg movement when prompted by the researchers.

Currently there is no outright cure to combat paralysis, however growing research suggests that stimulating the spinal cord with electrical currents can assist patients to feel and regain motion, even if it has been years since the initial accident. This method of spinal cord stimulation gives hope to the estimated 276,000 Americans currently living with spinal cord injuries.

From day one, I always said I was going to walk again, and I still say that now,” Stephenson said, “and it’s kind of crazy to look back because everyone looked at me plain in the face and said, ‘…You messed your back up, and it’s not gonna happen.’ It’s awesome to be a part of this.”

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Paralyzed Man Stands Again after Spinal Cord Injury Due to Epidural Neurostimulator Orange County, CA – April 5th 2017 –  Spinal cord injuries often cause permanent loss of function and feeling below the site of injury. These traumatic incidents often result from damage to the vertebrae, disks, or ligaments of the spinal column. Most often, car […]