Spinal Cord Injury News and Research

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A spinal cord injury usually begins with a sudden, traumatic blow to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae. The damage begins at the moment of injury when displaced bone fragments, disc material, or ligaments bruise or tear into spinal cord tissue. Most injuries to the spinal cord don't completely sever it. Instead, an injury is more likely to cause fractures and compression of the vertebrae, which then crush and destroy the axons, extensions of nerve cells that carry signals up and down the spinal cord between the brain and the rest of the body. An injury to the spinal cord can damage a few, many, or almost all of these axons. Some injuries will allow almost complete recovery. Others will result in complete paralysis.

Urgent need for rehabilitation services highlighted in WHO analysis of Gaza injuries

At least one quarter or 22 500 of those injured in Gaza by 23 July are estimated to have life-changing injuries that require rehabilitation services now and for years to come, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) analysis of the types of injuries resulting from the ongoing conflict in Gaza: Estimating Trauma Rehabilitation Needs in Gaza using Injury Data from Emergency Medical Teams.

12 Sep 2024

Study shows delayed feedback enhances learning in traumatic brain injury

Kessler Foundation researchers have published a novel study exploring the effects of delayed feedback on learning in individuals with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

11 Sep 2024

New normative neuroimaging library sets standard for brain injury research

With recent advances in neuroimaging, moving from qualitative to quantitative outputs, an understanding is needed of what normal data look like to be able to apply these advances to diagnosis and outcomes prediction in traumatic brain injury (TBI).

10 Sep 2024

New immunotherapy approach shows promise for minimizing spinal cord injury damage

WashU Medicine researchers have designed, in mice, an approach to minimizing the damage from a spinal cord injury through the use of engineered immune cells.

4 Sep 2024

New protocol explores the combination of aerobic exercise and cognitive rehabilitation for MS patients

Researchers at Kessler Foundation have published a new clinical protocol examining the combination of aerobic exercise and cognitive rehabilitation to improve learning and memory in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have mobility disability.

3 Sep 2024

New implant offers hope for nerve repair after spinal cord injury

A research team at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has developed a new implant that conveys electrical signals and may have the potential to encourage nerve cell (neuron) repair after spinal cord injury.

28 Aug 2024

First comprehensive description of neuropathic pain experiences among SCI athletes

With the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games just around the corner, the extensive training and the sacrifices athletes make to compete at the games take centre stage.

27 Aug 2024

Study reveals how brain pathways aid motor recovery after injury

Stroke and spinal cord injuries can severely impair motor functions, and understanding how to promote recovery is a critical challenge.

23 Aug 2024

Robotic postural stand training with epidural stimulation benefits trunk control during standing

Kessler Foundation researchers have published a new clinical study investigating the effects of robotic postural stand training combined with spinal cord epidural stimulation (Stand-scES) on trunk control in individuals with high-level spinal cord injury (SCI).

21 Aug 2024

Current challenges in defining, measuring, and treating MS-related fatigue

Kessler Foundation research scientist John DeLuca, PhD, has published a significant clinical article in Journal of Neurology, shedding light on the elusive nature of fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its implications for treatment.

7 Aug 2024

Vanderbilt researchers illuminate white matter signals in the spinal cord

Injuries, infection and inflammatory diseases that damage the spinal cord can lead to intractable pain and disability. Some degree of recovery may be possible. The question is, how best to stimulate the regrowth and healing of damaged nerves.

2 Aug 2024

New study examines educational disruptions for children

Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) often face significant disruptions in their education due to extended hospitalizations. A recent study published online in Disability and Rehabilitation on July 1, 2024, by a multidisciplinary team of Kessler Foundation and Children Specialized Hospital.

27 Jul 2024

Study shows prognostic value of tissue bridges in cervical spinal cord injury

The prognosis for recovery from a spinal cord injury (SCI) is of great importance for those directly affected and those around them.

28 Jun 2024

Remote strategy-based intervention shows promise for individuals with memory impairments caused by MS

A pilot study shows promise for a new treatment option for individuals with memory impairments caused by multiple sclerosis (MS).

28 Jun 2024

Methylphenidate may enhance oculomotor function in individuals with multiple sclerosis

A pilot study conducted by Kessler Foundation researchers has shown promising results in the use of methylphenidate to enhance oculomotor function in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).

26 Jun 2024

KU researchers uncover role of Src gene in nervous system development

Many people are familiar with oncogenes -; genes long known to be involved in cancers in humans, such as the gene "Src."

24 Jun 2024

New cellular atlas revolutionizes understanding of spinal cord injury

Scientists at EPFL have achieved a significant research milestone in the field of spinal cord injuries-;mapping out the cellular and molecular dynamics of paralysis in unprecedented detail with their open-source project 'Tabulae Paralytica'.

19 Jun 2024

Precise protein design offers hope for damaged hearts and kidneys

Using computer-designed proteins, researchers have now shown they are able to direct human stem cells to form new blood vessels in the lab. This milestone in regenerative medicine offers new hope for repairing damaged hearts, kidneys, and other organs.

18 Jun 2024

Study identifies drug target to prevent autonomic dysfunction after spinal cord injury

In response to stressful or dangerous stimuli, nerve cells in the spinal cord activate involuntary, autonomic reflexes often referred to as "fight or flight" responses.

12 Jun 2024

Injectable fish oil emulsion reduces brain damage in newborn rodents

An injectable emulsion containing two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil markedly reduced brain damage in newborn rodents after a disruption in the flow of oxygen to the brain near birth, a study by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons has found.

6 Jun 2024