TY - JOUR
T1 - Restorative Treatments for Cervical Spinal Cord Injury, a Narrative Review
AU - Kaleem, Muhammad I.
AU - Javeed, Saad
AU - Plog, Benjamin A.
AU - Gupta, Vivek P.
AU - Ray, Wilson Z.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/11/1
Y1 - 2024/11/1
N2 - Study Design: A narrative review. Objective: To summarize relevant data from representative studies investigating upper limb restorative therapies for cervical spinal cord injury. Summary of Background Data: Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition resulting in tetraplegia, lifelong disability, and reduced quality of life. Given the dependence of all activities on hand function, patients with tetraplegia rank regaining hand function as one of their highest priorities. Recovery from cervical SCI is heterogeneous and often incomplete; currently, various novel therapies are under investigation to improve neurological function and eventually better quality of life in patients with tetraplegia. Methods: In this article, a narrative literature review was performed to identify treatment options targeting the restoration of function in patients with cervical SCI. Studies were included from available literature based on the availability of clinical data and whether they are applicable to restoration of arm and hand function in patients with cervical SCI. Results: We describe relevant studies including indications and outcomes with a focus on arm and hand function. Different treatment modalities described include nerve transfers, tendon transfers, spinal cord stimulation, functional electrical stimulation, non-invasive brain stimulation, brain-machine interfaces and neuroprosthetics, stem cell therapy, and immunotherapy. As the authors’ institution leads one of the largest clinical trials on nerve transfers for cervical SCI, we also describe how patients undergoing nerve transfers are managed and followed at our center. Conclusions: While complete recovery from cervical spinal cord injury may not be possible, novel therapies aimed at the restoration of upper limb motor function have made significant progress toward the realization of complete recovery.
AB - Study Design: A narrative review. Objective: To summarize relevant data from representative studies investigating upper limb restorative therapies for cervical spinal cord injury. Summary of Background Data: Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition resulting in tetraplegia, lifelong disability, and reduced quality of life. Given the dependence of all activities on hand function, patients with tetraplegia rank regaining hand function as one of their highest priorities. Recovery from cervical SCI is heterogeneous and often incomplete; currently, various novel therapies are under investigation to improve neurological function and eventually better quality of life in patients with tetraplegia. Methods: In this article, a narrative literature review was performed to identify treatment options targeting the restoration of function in patients with cervical SCI. Studies were included from available literature based on the availability of clinical data and whether they are applicable to restoration of arm and hand function in patients with cervical SCI. Results: We describe relevant studies including indications and outcomes with a focus on arm and hand function. Different treatment modalities described include nerve transfers, tendon transfers, spinal cord stimulation, functional electrical stimulation, non-invasive brain stimulation, brain-machine interfaces and neuroprosthetics, stem cell therapy, and immunotherapy. As the authors’ institution leads one of the largest clinical trials on nerve transfers for cervical SCI, we also describe how patients undergoing nerve transfers are managed and followed at our center. Conclusions: While complete recovery from cervical spinal cord injury may not be possible, novel therapies aimed at the restoration of upper limb motor function have made significant progress toward the realization of complete recovery.
KW - cervical spinal cord injury
KW - nerve transfers
KW - restorative therapies
KW - trial
KW - upper limb
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85208165519&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/BSD.0000000000001699
DO - 10.1097/BSD.0000000000001699
M3 - Article
C2 - 39480049
AN - SCOPUS:85208165519
SN - 2380-0186
VL - 37
SP - 451
EP - 458
JO - Clinical spine surgery
JF - Clinical spine surgery
IS - 9
ER -