Iron nerves

Neurosurgeons helped paralyzed patients get back on their feet and even have children

Lydia Sorokina, XX2 century

Another breakthrough in medicine: a team of doctors from Switzerland helped nine paralyzed patients to start standing, walking, swimming and cycling. As reported in the journal Nature Medicine (Rowald et al., Activity-dependent spinal cord neuromodulation rapidly restores trunk and leg motor functions after complete paralysis), neurosurgeons have succeeded as follows: they implanted electrodes controlled by a computer program and simulating the activity of motor neurons into the area between the spinal cord and spine of paralyzed people.

One of the patients, a young Italian Michel Roccati, was paralyzed after he got into a motorcycle accident five years ago — his spinal cord became "severed". Until the neurosurgeons helped him, he couldn't feel his legs at all. Now Roccati can walk. However, Michelle, like other patients, does not use the possibilities of implanted electrodes on a permanent basis — at this stage it is too difficult. So far, patients have resorted to using electrodes during restorative workouts.

Another participant of the program named David M'zee received his implant in 2018 and was able to become the father of a little girl Zoe. However, despite such great successes of neurosurgeons, implants have not yet been widely used — clinical trials have not yet been completed. In addition, the Swiss emphasize that implants are not a cure for spinal cord injuries, but only an important step towards improving the quality of life of paralyzed patients. But it may be possible to cure patients in the future with the help of stem cell therapy. However, research on this therapy is just beginning.

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