SPINAL CORD INJURY

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) are caused by trauma to the spinal cord that impairs physical function, mobility or feeling.

The majority of patients suffering from SCI have an intact spinal cord, but still have enough cellular damage to result in a loss of physical functioning.

The effects caused by SCI depend heavily on the type of injury and the level of injury. A spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma. Spinal cord injuries often cause changes in strength, body function and movement.

The rationale of utilizing highly concentrated mesenchymal cells is to provide the patient with a treatment that stimulates his / her immune system, promotes cellular regeneration and improves symptoms associated with spinal cord injuries.

Cellular therapy utilizes regenerative stem cells targeted to specific areas in order to repair cellular damage that was caused from spinal cord injuries.

Also, this therapy helps control inflammation and promotes regeneration that may improve a SCI patient’s ability to move and feel.

The endovascular/intravenous treatment containing Adult Stem Cell should serve to complement the patient’s current treatment regimen or to promote healing when current treatment is not responding.

Published improvements include improved ASIA scores, improved bladder and/or bowel function, recovered sexual function, and increased muscle control.

Spinal cord injuries can be described as various levels of incomplete, where complete means total loss of function.

Recent studies have focused on the use of adult stem cells for spinal cord injury patients. It has been discovered that introduction of mesenchymal stem cells either intralesionally or intravenously can be successful in improving functional recovery in chronic spinal cord injuries.

There are two types of SCI injuries:

COMPLETE

A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of the injury; no sensation and no voluntary movement. Both sides of the body are equally affected.

INCOMPLETE

An incomplete injury means that there is some functioning below the primary level of the injury. A person with an incomplete injury may be able to move one limb more than another, may be able to feel parts of the body that cannot be moved, or may have more functioning on one side of the body than the other. With incomplete injuries there will be some variation in these prognoses.

Experience our Individually-Center approach for deep regeneration and wellbeing through our leading-edge cellular therapies

Can STem Cells Cure my Medical Condition?

When we treat a medical condition, we are just treating the condition, not curing it.

Neither fresh cells nor cultured cells can cure every disease, but they can do great things as far as reducing the severity of symptoms and stopping the advancement of the condition.

Normally, in a lot of chronic degenerative conditions or neurological conditions, several treatments will be needed because the effect of cellular therapies has a time limit.

Our unique approach includes a multi-dose treatment plan, in which we apply the cells once, with follow-ups at three, six, and nine month mark. If symptoms begin to occur, another round of treatment is needed.

What are the different cellular therapies
available for me?

Our comprehensive stem cell treatment protocols employ well-targeted combinations of Exosomes, allogeneic human Mesenchymal cells, and autologous bone marrow and Adipose derived stem cells to treat the diseases and conditions listed previously.

Our treatment plans are mostly focused on a systemic or whole-body approach to ensure these patients receive the highest quality and quantity of cellular products during their time in our hospital.

Of the different kinds of cellular products available for use, there are two main sources that can be used to target the conditions that have been previously discussed.

Autologous procedures

Autologous procedures are those in which the patient is their own donor for the cellular therapy treatment. In these kinds of procedures, a doctor takes a sample (usually of bone marrow or adipose tissue) and harvests the cells from it, before administering it locally to the diseased or damaged area.

Allogeneic procedures

Allogeneic procedures are those in which the patient receives cells that have been sourced from a donor that is not the patient. These samples are neonatal tissue and are comprised of umbilical cord blood.

They are extensively screened to ensure the quality and health of the cells.

The type of treatment used depends on a variety of factors, including medical history and age, but we endeavor to give each patient a personalized, case-by-case treatment plan to ensure that the only possible outcome is a positive one.

Which are the different
administration methods that we use?

After you’ve been selected a candidate, you will meet with our highly-trained team of medical professionals to devise a treatment plan tailored specifically to have the best results possible given your current condition.

Below we will outline the different methods of administering cellular therapies that we use in our medical facilities:

intrathecal-intraarterial

This form of implantation is ideal for neurological conditions because the stem cells are injected past the blood-brain barrier and directly into the spinal fluid, which enables them to reach the spinal cord and brain.

During the procedure, an experienced anesthesiologist inject stem cells into the spinal canal through the lower vertebrae under local anesthesia. They are all performed in a positive airflow room under sterile conditions, and the procedure usually takes about thirty minutes.

Intravenous IV

The safest and simplest method for delivering the stem cells throughout the body.

Anesthesia is not required. We may use Lidocaine topical spray to needle prick area beforehand.

IV administration usually takes about 20 – 30 minutes.

Intramuscular IM

The stem cells are injected directly into the muscle.

Intramuscular implantation is very safe and does not require anesthesia.

What´s Included as part of our treatment?

Before the first day of treatment, we go over the patient’s medical history, including previous and current treatments including physical therapy and cognitive therapy. We interview the patients to know more about them in order to form a custom treatment plan.

Medical General Assessment

Critical care evaluation

Specialist doctor evaluation

Anesthesiology evaluation

Perioperative care

Pharmacy and Supplies

Operating room

Anesthesia Services

Diagnostic/therapeutic imaging

Autologous stem cell acquisition

Pathology services

Hemodynamics suite

Patient coordination fee

Catheterization procedure

Mannitol injection

Med Surg Supplies sterile

Spinal tap procedure

Recovery

Laboratory fee

Culture/Expansion autologous BM
derived stem cells

Med Surg room

IV infusion

Follow up and recommendations

Pick up / Drop off from airport to accommodation and vice versa

Pick up/Drop Off the day of the procedure to and from hospital

Understanding your medical condition

Spinal cord injuries may result from damage to the vertebrae, ligaments or disks of the spinal column or to the spinal cord itself.

A traumatic spinal cord injury may stem from a sudden, traumatic blow to your spine that fractures, dislocates, crushes or compresses one or more of your vertebrae. It may also result from a gunshot or knife wound that penetrates and cuts your spinal cord.

Additional damage usually occurs over days or weeks because of bleeding, swelling, inflammation and fluid accumulation in and around your spinal cord.

A nontraumatic spinal cord injury may be caused by arthritis, cancer, inflammation, infections or disk degeneration of the spine.

Your brain and central nervous system

The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord.

The spinal cord, made of soft tissue and surrounded by bones (vertebrae), extends downward from the base of your brain and is made up of nerve cells and groups of nerves called tracts, which go to different parts of your body.

The lower end of your spinal cord stops a little above your waist in the region called the conus medullaris. Below this region is a group of nerve roots called the cauda equina.

Tracts in your spinal cord carry messages between your brain and the rest of your body. Motor tracts carry signals from your brain to control muscle movement. Sensory tracts carry signals from body parts to your brain relating to heat, cold, pressure, pain and the position of your limbs.

Damage to nerve fibers

Whether the cause is traumatic or nontraumatic, the damage affects the nerve fibers passing through the injured area and may impair part or all of your corresponding muscles and nerves below the injury site.

A chest (thoracic) or lower back (lumbar) injury can affect your torso, legs, bowel and bladder control, and sexual function.

A neck (cervical) injury affects the same areas in addition to affecting movements of your arms and, possibly, your ability to breathe.

TREATMENTS: SPINAL CORD INJURY