Spinal cord injury is currently incurable and treatment is limited to minimising secondary complications and maximising residual function by rehabilitation. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury and the factors that prevent nerve and tissue repair has fuelled a move towards more ambitious experimental treatments aimed at promoting neuroprotection, axonal regeneration, and neuroplasticity. ⋯ However, in view of recent advances in spinal cord injury research and demand from patients, clinicians, and the scientific community to push promising experimental treatments to the clinic, momentum and optimism exist for the translation of candidate experimental treatments to clinical spinal cord injury. The ability to rescue, reactivate, and rewire spinal systems to restore function after spinal cord injury might soon be within reach.
Leanne M Ramer, Matt S Ramer, and Elizabeth J Bradbury.
King's College London, Regeneration Group, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Guy's Campus, London, UK; International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Vancouver Genera... more l Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada. less