Abstract
Research on spinal cord injury is rapidly increasing our understanding of the cellular and biochemical effects leading to secondary injury. So-called designer medications that affect individual cell-membrane receptors or ion-exchange channels and prevent cellular events such as apoptosis appear to be neuroprotective. Mild systemic hypothermia is also a promising therapy. However, these strategies are only useful around the time of injury. Prevention of these injuries has received surprisingly little emphasis in the orthopaedic literature and is clearly the best strategy. For patients with permanent deficits, regeneration or repair - "The Cure" - is highly anticipated. Unfortunately, these investigations are proceeding slowly, but they do show promise at this time.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1285-1292 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - Series A |
Volume | 83 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2001 |