Pioneering surgery could be key for other spinal injured patients

Oct. 22, 2014 - PRLog -- A paralysed man has been able to walk again after pioneering treatment carried out by surgeons in Poland and supported by scientists in London led by Prof Geoff Raisman, chair of neural regeneration at University College London's Institute of Neurology.

Darek Fidyka, who was paralysed from the chest down in a knife attack in 2010, can now walk using a frame as a result of the surgery which transplanted stem cells from the nasal cavity onto the spinal cord. Mr Fidyka said that walking again with support was "an incredible feeling". He stated that "When you can't feel almost half your body, you are helpless, but when it starts coming back it's like you were born again."

Hilton Obery, Head of spinal injuries at NewLaw Solicitors said, “The news that paralysed man Darek Fidyka walking again will be seen by the spinal cord injury (SCI) community with great hope for the future.

‘It marks a possible revolution in the way with what has been perceived as something which is not for our time and something that will happen in the future given the difficulties of repairing the intricate nature of nerve damage in the highway of nerve distribution to the spinal cord. Put simply a person suffering from a SCI will have the highway broken and the signals are unable to pass and with that brings life changing circumstances.

‘We all take for granted the use of our limbs, bladder, bowel and sexual functions and never know what we have until they are lost.”

Hilton continued, “Professor Raisman and his team have been working on stem cells from the nose which have the ability to renew themselves as a way to regenerate nerves that have been broken due to SCI. He has been working on this for years. Having witnessed his work in rats and the results one can see, that the ability to bring repair to the spinal cord and therefore bring back the use of limbs as being one of the most important medical advancements in modern history is incredible.

‘This is no longer science fiction and will only go from strength to strength as more is learned from those who can have this new lease of life.”

Hilton Obery is known for helping his clients get the best they possibly can from the trauma they have suffered through accidents and injuries, not only through compensation, but through emotional support. The effects of having SCI is not only on the individual but on their family. Long term care and changes to accommodation are just some of the expenses that flow from this life changing condition and the potential saving to the state could be enormous if suffers are able to get back some of the mobility that they have lost.

Hilton, Spinal Injury Cord specialist solicitor said, “The repair of the spinal cord after SCI was a dream of the future, but from the results of this surgery it’s certainly no longer a dream and could bring hope to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.”