Clinical case 03
Sensory and motor gains after spinal cord injury
man, 49 · Italy
Patient record
- Patient
- man, 49
- Country
- Italy
- Diagnosis
- sequelae of a spinal cord injury at the L1–L2 level, with paraplegia of the legs and neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction
- Main deficits before treatment
- no independent walking, markedly reduced sensation in the lower body, impaired movement in the legs, marked pelvic dysfunction
- Treatment given
- an individual autologous cell and neuroregenerative protocol
- Course after treatment
- new sensation and paraesthesiae in the legs, the appearance of motor activity, improved sensation and bladder function
History
After a fall from a height the patient sustained a severe injury of the spine and spinal cord at the L1–L2 level. Emergency surgery was carried out to stabilise the spine and decompress the cord.
Despite prolonged intensive rehabilitation afterwards, paraplegia of the legs persisted, along with the absence of independent walking, markedly impaired sensation and neurogenic dysfunction of the pelvic organs.
Before treatment
The patient moved about independently in a wheelchair, but could not stand or walk without special devices.
There remained:
- markedly impaired movement in the legs
- reduced and absent sensation below the level of the lesion
- impaired awareness of the lower body
- neurogenic bladder dysfunction requiring regular catheterisation
- impaired bowel function
The programme
A personalised autologous programme of cell and neuroregenerative therapy was drawn up for the patient.
At the preparatory stage, peripheral blood and bone marrow were collected to obtain the patient's own cell products.
The programme included:
- autologous cell therapy
- regulatory T cells
- a neurally targeted component of the cell therapy
- exosome therapy
- two sessions of neurotherapy
Course after treatment
After the programme the patient noted new sensation in the lower body.
Paraesthesiae appeared in the form of pins and needles and tingling, and awareness of his legs and of his own body below the level of the injury became more distinct.
New voluntary motor activity in the legs also appeared, more marked on the right.
There was positive change in the pelvic functions as well: the patient reported improved awareness of bladder filling and a greater degree of control over its function.
Outcome
After the programme, positive changes were noted in several areas at once:
- improved sensation
- new sensation in the lower body
- the appearance of motor activity in the legs
- improved bladder function
It is particularly significant that these changes appeared after a long period of marked and relatively stable neurological deficit.
This case is described from the patient's medical records and observation over the period after the programme. No personal data is published. The course of the disease and the response to treatment differ from patient to patient.