Recent Advances in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury

Document Type : CURRENT CONCEPTS REVIEW

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran - Orthopedic Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran - Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4 Orthopedic Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran - Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

5 Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

6 Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran - Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

7 Department of Neurosurgery, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

10.22038/abjs.2023.73944.3424

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a complex, multifaceted, progressive, and yet incurable complication that 
can cause irreversible damage to the individual, family, and society. In recent years strategies for the 
management and rehabilitation of SCI besides axonal regeneration, remyelination, and neuronal 
plasticity of the injured spinal cord have significantly improved. Although most of the current research 
and therapeutic advances have been made in animal models, so far, no specific and complete treatment 
has been reported for SCI in humans. The failure to treat this complication has been due to the inherent 
neurological complexity and the structural, cellular, molecular, and biochemical characteristics of spinal 
cord injury. In this review, in addition to elucidating the causes of spinal cord injury from a molecular 
and pathophysiological perspective, the complexity and drawbacks of neural regeneration that lead to 
the failure in SCI treatment are described. Also, recent advances and cutting -edge strategies in most 
areas of SCI treatment are presented. 
 Level of evidence: I

Keywords

Main Subjects


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