New Spinal Cord Discoveries Provide Hope

March 20, 2011

New Spinal Cord Discoveries Provide Hope

According to researchers at Ohio State University, an estimated 1.3 million people in the United States are living with a spinal cord injury. Along with paraplegia and quadriplegia, complications of the injury can include bladder and bowel dysfunction and chronic pain.

Doctors have known for some time that macrophages, a type of white blood cell, cause inflammation in the area after an injury, which can exacerbate damage to the injured tissue. Previous research focused on bone marrow as the source of macrophages. A recent study by Ohio State University, however, has shed new light on the source and the potential of these cells.

According to the OSU study, macrophages serve a dual purpose. While they can cause tissue damage, they also promote the growth of axons, which nerve cells use to communicate with each other. The hope of researchers is that the macrophages can be controlled to limit the amount of inflammation, while releasing the axons and keeping their regenerative qualities intact. Current therapies focus on stabilizing the injury, but offer limited rehabilitative effects.

In the study, OSU researchers compared two groups of mice with spinal cord injuries, with one group having the spleen removed prior to the injury. The macrophage level in the mice without spleens was 20 percent lower after the injury. For researchers, knowing the source of the macrophages is the first step in understanding their potential.

Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common cause of spinal cord injuries is motor vehicle accidents. More than 40 percent of new spinal cord injuries each year are caused by car and motorcycle accidents. Other causes include:
-Falls - overall accounting for 25 percent of spinal cord injuries
-Acts of violence - 15 percent of injuries are the result of gunshot and knife wounds, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
-Sports and recreation injuries - responsible for 8 percent of injuries

The Mayo Clinic also notes that diseases such as cancer and arthritis can cause inflammation to the spinal cord and result in a spinal cord injury. Overall, alcohol use, primarily in motor vehicle accidents, is a factor in one in every four spinal cord injuries.

Spinal cord accidents result in serious, life-changing and permanent injuries. For those who have been injured in an accident or living with the effects of a spinal cord injury, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your options.

Article provided by Coppola & Marlin, P.C.
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