Repair therapies in spinal cord injuries.

ABSTRACT

Spinal cord repair therapies (SCRT) are experimental treatments which are attracting a growing interest among both spinal cord injury sufferers and their families as well as physicians and physiotherapists. Basing on current professional literature, this article presents the most important SCRT strategies. The majority of currently developed SCRTs are at the stage of experimental in vitro or animal studies. Few of these studies are in the early clinical trial stage or are being offered as non-standard commercial health care services. Basing on a review of the literature, it can be stated that currently there are few studies which meet the criterion of reliability, and their results make possible an objective assessment of the safety and efficacy of SCRT. Available study results are insufficient to confirm the advisability of widespread application of these methods.