Discovery may help those with spinal cord injuries regain hand function

April 16, 2013

Discovery may help those with spinal cord injuries regain hand function

Article provided by Law Offices of Joshua Katz and Bozman-Moss & Watson
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Researchers at Dalhousie University in Canada have discovered the neural circuit that controls the hand's ability to grasp objects. Though the discovery may not lead to a cure for paralysis, it may play a role in improving or restoring hand function in patients suffering from spinal cord injuries, brain injuries or some neurodegenerative diseases.

According to the researchers' findings, which were published recently in the neuroscience journal Neuron, a group of nerve cells on the spinal cord act as an intermediary between the sensory neurons of the hand and the motor neurons in the spinal cord. This group of cells, known as dl3 interneurons, receives sensory information from the hand and sends signals to the appropriate motor neurons to control grip. When this process is interrupted by either injury or disease, a person will be unable to open or close his hand. Researchers initially believed that these cells controlled functions associated with walking.

Prior to the discovery of the role of the dl3 interneurons, researchers did not understand the precise mechanism required to control the force needed to properly grasp objects. This circuit allows people to unconsciously adjust the pressure exerted by their grasp to ensure that they are using the proper amount of force to whatever they may be holding. It may seem simple, but the process is both complex and also essential to many tasks people perform every day.

Importance of restoring hand function

Injures to the brain and spinal cord, as well as some neurodegenerative diseases, can severely impact a person's hand function. This can make it difficult to perform simple tasks and, in turn, can make it difficult for someone to live independently. In a 2004 survey, patients with quadriplegia identified hand function as number one when asked which bodily function they would most like to recover. This means that patients found hand function to be more important than regaining normal sensation, sexual function or even bladder and bowel control.

Although further research is needed, it is possible that the discovery of the importance dl3 interneurons may lead to new treatments that allow patients to regain the use of their hands. It may not lead to a cure, but it could help substantially improve the daily lives of spinal injury patients.

Suffering a spinal cord injury can lead to significant short and long term medical costs. If you have suffered an injury due another person's negligence, contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your options.