A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that ultimately impairs the nerves in the spinal canal. This interrupts communication of the brain with body regions below the site of injury. In the majority of cases SCI results in lifelong loss of control of motor functions and sensation. After the primary injury to the spinal cord, a cascade of events leads to progressive loss of tissue which may further deteriorate the patient’s prognosis.
Spinal cord injuries are predominantly caused by accidents and the highest occurrence is in young people (between 16 and 35 years of age). SCI is the major cause of disability of young people.
Contemporary therapy is restricted to medication reducing inflammatory processes and surgical interventions stabilizing the current state. Physical therapy can provide some compensation for the loss of motor function, but there is no therapy stopping the neuronal cell death and stimulating neuronal rewiring/ reorganization (plasticity).