Spinal cord injury treatments: There is no 'magic bullet'RSS Feed

A variety of new treatments for spinal cord injuries show promise, but it is unlikely there will be a "magic bullet" when it comes to finding a cure, an expert has said.

If a cure for the condition is eventually found, it is likely to be the result of a multidisciplinary approach drawing expertise from several fields, according to Dr Ranjan Gupta, chair of the department of orthopaedic surgery and professor of orthopaedic surgery, anatomy, neurobiology and biomedical engineering at the University of California, Irvine.

He believes that one difficulty with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) is the fact that they involve more than the direct injury to the spine.

"The primary mode of an SCI involves changes to the patient's anatomy that occur as the result of the actual traumatic event. Secondary injuries may occur as a result of how the body responds to the primary injury," he said.

An expert in Thailand recently stated that patients with spinal cord injuries often require psychological as well as physical treatment.

Dr Krishnapundha Bunyaratavej, of the neurosurgery division at Chulalongkorn Hospital, told the Bangkok Post that chronic pain can cause unhappiness and affect a patient's career.

Serious Law, leading spinal cord injury solicitors

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