Spinal cord injury is one of the most serious injuries car accident victims can suffer. These injuries can result in loss of motion, sensation, and can be life-altering. Currently, there is not cure for spinal cord injury. Unlike other cells in the body, the cells in the spinal cord do not regenerate. When the spinal cord is damaged, the damage is permanent. However, new research offers new hope for spinal cord injury victims.
According to the Guardian, a new gene therapy has healed the damaged spinal cords of rats. The gene therapy works by dissolving scar tissue that can sometimes block nerve signals from sending messages from the brain to the spinal cord to the rest of the body. According to the BBC, one of the ways the body attempts to heal a spinal cord injury is by creating scar tissue around the spinal cord. Unfortunately, when scar tissue forms, it can actually decrease functioning in spinal cord injury victims. Scientists note that spinal cord scar tissue can spread down the length of the spinal cord after an injury. The gene treatment can reduce the negative effects of scar tissue. During the studies, when the scar tissue was eliminated, the nerves in the spine were able to reconnect. In rats with spinal cord damage, when the rats were administered the gene therapy, they were able to regain the use of their front paws after receiving the gene therapy treatment. For doctors studying spinal cord damage treatments, this treatment is revolutionary and offers hope for spinal cord injury patients.
Currently, the research has still not left animal trials, but the hope is that the gene therapy might be able to help humans in the near future. Some scientists believe that the treatment might be able to help patients regain the use of their hands, allowing them to write, and perform daily tasks.
Traffic accident spinal cord injuries often affect the neck, resulting in paralysis to the arms and legs. Doctors performing the research believe that by reducing scar tissue, patients suffering from paralysis in their arms might be able to see some improvement.
Yet, one of the barriers to bringing the technology to humans is that doctors still don’t know how to switch off the gene therapy once it has done its job healing the spine. The scar-tissue eliminating effects can still be seen in animal trials long after the therapy has performed its intended function.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in a car accident, you may have certain rights under the law. The Law Offices of Robert Gregg are personal injury attorneys in Dallas,Texas who work closely with victims and families to help them seek damages so they can receive the medical care they need and deserve. The cost of caring for a spinal cord injury patient can be expensive.