Author/Authors :
Derakhshanrad، Nazi نويسنده Brain and Spinal cord Injury Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Derakhshanrad, Nazi , Saberi، Hooshang نويسنده Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center (BASIR), Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Keshavarz Blvd., Tehran, Iran. Saberi, Hooshang , Shafiee، Sajad نويسنده , , Yekaninejad، Mir Saeed نويسنده Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Hadian، Mohammad Reza نويسنده Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hadian, Mohammad Reza , Sheikhrezai، Abdolreza نويسنده Brain and Spinal Injuries Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital,
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. AND Department of Neurosurgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Sheikhrezai, Abdolreza , Hussain Khan، Zahid نويسنده Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Imam Khomeini Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , , Noruzi Javidan، Abbas نويسنده Department of Neurosurgery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Noruzi Javidan, Abbas , Kohan، Amir Hassan نويسنده Brain and Spinal cord Injury Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Kohan, Amir Hassan
Abstract :
Many experimental studies have reported behavioral improvement after transplantation of peripheral nerve tissue into the contused spinal cord, even in large animals. The safety of this treatment in human remains unknown. In this translational phase 1 study, safety of peripheral nerve grafting for chronic spinal cord injuries and possible outcomes are being reported. Twelve complete motor spinal cord injury patients, who had finished their rehabilitation program, were enrolled. There were 4 thoracic and 8 cervical cases. Patients underwent sural nerve preconditioning in the calf, followed 1 week later, by intramedullary transplantation of the harvested nerve fascicles. The patients were followed up for potential complications periodically, and final assessment by American Spinal Injury association (ASIA) and Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) III were reported after 2 years of follow-up. The median duration of the spinal cord injury was 31 months. At two years of follow up, out of 7 cases with ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) A, 4(57.1%) cases improved to AIS B and 1 (14.3%) case became AIS C. There were 1 patient with transient increased spasm, one case of transient cystitis, 3 patients with transient increased neuropathic pain and 1 case with transient episode of autonomic dysreflexia, all being managed medically. There was no case of donor site infection. The above complications were transient as they responded to temporary medical treatment. It may be deduced that after two years follow-up of patients that the procedure may be safe, however further controlled studies are needed to prove its efficacy.
