Biomaterials


Spinal cord


here’s currently no way to repair an injured spinal cord. The best we can do is manage the after-effects and prevent further damage: surgery to relieve pressure on the spinal cord, medication to reduce pain and inflammation, rehabilitation strategies.


T 82


regeneration


We’re getting better at managing spinal cord injury, but are yet to reach the holy grail of treatment: reversing the damage done. Though that’s not for lack of trying. As tissue engineering progresses, researchers are investigating how biomaterials and advanced techniques may help to regenerate an injured spinal cord. Monica Karpinski speaks to specialists to find out more.


But getting the injured tissue to regenerate? For a long time, it was considered impossible. Spinal cord injury destroys cells and nerve fibres involved in transmitting information to the brain – and brings on secondary damage, like scars forming at the injury site, that can prevent the tissue from


Medical Device Developments / www.medicaldevice-developments.com


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