Recent videofrom Thailand showing paralyzed Humboldt Broncos hockey player Ryan Straschnitzkimoving his legs after an electrical stimulation device was surgically implanted in his spine has sparkedexcitement as well as questions about therapies available to Canadians with spinal injuries.
The procedure Straschnitzki, 20,had is called epidural stimulation,and although promising, it's still highly experimental, experts in both Canada and the U.S. say. It's in early stages of clinical trials in the U.S. and Europeto evaluate the safety and effectiveness of restoring physical abilities from bowel and bladder function to moving arms and legs to people who desperately want to get some normalcy back after spinal injury.
Barry Munro understands all too well why people's immediate reaction is to ask why they can't try the procedure here in Canada. He's been hoping for and working toward finding a cure for spinal cord injuryever since he dove into a lake in his 20s and was left quadriplegic.
Now 55, Munro is chief development officer for the Canadian Spinal Research Organizationand works with the North American Spinal Injury Consortium. For more than 30 years, he's seen the headlines come and go, inciting hope that a cure is on the horizon.
"I've been down this road before," Munro told CBC News."Ireally, really believe in finding a cure and believe it will happen and I have that hope. But there's a big but we have to be careful."
MilosPopovich, director of the KITE Research Institute at the University Health Network's Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, echoes that need to proceed with caution. He saidthat epidural stimulation must proceed through many more stages of scientifically soundclinical trials to prove it works before it could be made available as a therapy in Canada.
"This is not a magic wand," Popovich said.
Although both Popovich and Munro want to protect people from false hope, they also say epidural stimulation is a significant area of spinal cord research. It's important, they say, for people to know the facts and understand that it's still early days.
Epidural stimulation involves sending electrical impulses into the spine and was actually developed many years ago as a treatment for people suffering fromexcruciating pain.Researchers later discovered that in some patients with spinal cord injuries, the electrical impulses stimulating the nerves also appeared to be generating movement.
Epidural stimulation requires surgery to place electrodes on the surface of the dura, the tissue that wraps around the spinal cord. The surgeons connect those electrodes to a device called an implantable pulse generator (IPG) that is placed elsewhere in the body, often inthe patient's lower back.
Researchers canthen start and control the electrical stimulationfrom a computer that sends wireless signals to the implantable pulse generator, which in turn stimulates the electrodes.
The idea, in very basic terms, is to stimulate neurons.Researchers sayit's important to understand that the movementgenerated during epidural stimulation lasts only while the device is turned on.Participants in epidural stimulation studies alsodomany hours of intense physical therapy.
"It's not justflipping a light switch," saidPeter Grahn, a neuroscientist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who has been conducting clinical trials on epidural stimulation.
In a previous studywith two participants, Grahn and his colleagueswere able to get them standing without the assistance of atherapist while the epidural stimulation device was turned on.
Grahnhimself wasparalyzed in by a spinal cord injury in 2005, and is excited about the possibilities epidural stimulation may present. But at the same time, he said,"there's a lot of work that needs to be done on the scientific side" to better understandthe specific biology and mechanics at play.
No. In fact, the next step in Grahn's work is a larger clinical trial that launched earlier this year, comparing epidural stimulation with another potential therapy that also attempts to stimulate the nerves in the spine, but is much less invasive. It'scalled transcutaneous stimulation (sometimes referred to as surface stimulation) and the device is placed on the skin overthe spine, rather than being surgically implanted.
Canadaalso appears to be much closer to getting a clinical trial in transcutaneous stimulation than epidural stimulation. Popovich saidthe University Health Network's Toronto Rehabilitation Instituteis considering starting a study examining whether transcuteneous stimulation can create upper limb movement.Like epidural stimulation, transcutaneousstimulation is also experimental and in the early stages of clinical trials to assess safety and effectiveness.
A significantchallenge in spinal cord stimulation is the sheer number of neurons controlling so many different functions of the body, said Milos Popovich of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.
Scientists are still learning how to targetthe right neurons to get the desired effect (e.g., movement of a leg) but they also don't want to accidentally create any undesired effects.
"There's always a drive to try to translate [research] to the clinic as fast as we can, but there's also the aspect of [doing it] as safely as we can," said Grahn at the Mayo Clinic."It's a balancing act."
"The worst thing that could happen right now is if somebodywere to use the device inappropriately or incorrectly," he said. "And then it sets the whole entire field back because then there's more regulatory scrutiny and everything on these devices because somebody got hurt."
In the case of epidural stimulation, even the surgery poses a risk.
Spinal injury not only paralyzes people's legs, arms, or both, but can also leave them with other lifelong serious health issues, such as higher susceptibility to infection or compromised lung capacity that can make surgery more dangerous.
Electrical stimulation in people with spinal cord injuries also carries potential unintended consequencesthat researchers conducting clinical trials need to watch out for, said Grahn.
After injury, the spinal cord no longer communicateswhen something is wrong and hence the spinal circuitry can "almost go a little bit haywire," he said.
So if the nerves are being stimulated in the wrong way and something dangerous is happening such as fluctuations in blood pressure orheart rate the spinal cord may not send a signal to the brain that something is amiss and needs to be regulated. Thatmakesit especially important for researchers to carefully monitor these vital signsduringelectrical stimulation, he said.
Walking again is a dream for most people with spinal cord injury,but there are other physical abilities that are even more important to many people that the public often don't think about, said Barry Munro of theCanadian Spinal Research Organization.
Moving arms and hands, bladder and bowel control, as well as sexual functionare also areas researchers are looking to improve withthe electrical stimulation.
Even thoughit may be frustrating for people to hear that these therapies are still in the experimental phase, it's important to remember that spinal injury research has made important strides over the past decades, Munro said.
"Has it moved quick enough? I don't think so," Munro said.
"[But] we're talking clinical trials.I remember the day wherethat was science fiction. So we have moved the bar."
What's most important now, Munro said, is for researchers across North America and the world to communicate with each other, as well as withpeople actually living with spinal cord injuries.
As part of that process, it's vital for people with spinal cord injuries to have access to reputable clinical trials they can learn about and possibly participate in, Munro said. His organization recommends a new website launched recently called SCITrials.org, which provides links to clinical trials specifically devoted to spinal cord therapies.
Clinical trials are moving forward not only in epidural stimulation and transcutaneous stimulation, but also in stem cell therapiesand neuroplasticity, which uses activity-based rehabilitation to try to train the neurons and muscles to work around the spinal damage.
"I'm excited about this," Munrosaid. "The future is going to be a combination of therapies for a cure."
- Hungarian Spinal Cord Injury Patient - Stem Cell Treatment Experience - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)-Osama - May 8th, 2011 [May 8th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Patient after Stem Cell Treatment - Juan Carlos Murillo - May 10th, 2011 [May 10th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury patient 10 years after injury after Stem Cell Treatment - May 10th, 2011 [May 10th, 2011]
- Rap Toward a Cure for Spinal Cord Injury - May 11th, 2011 [May 11th, 2011]
- Christopher "Kit" Bond - Spinal Cord Injury Stem Cell Patient - May 20th, 2011 [May 20th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal Cord Injury (2) - May 21st, 2011 [May 21st, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury-After Treatment, Pt was completely paralyzed (2) - May 22nd, 2011 [May 22nd, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury-After Treatment, Pt was completely paralyzed (1) - May 23rd, 2011 [May 23rd, 2011]
- Dogs recover following new treatment for spinal cord injury - June 2nd, 2011 [June 2nd, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Rehabiliation Success Story - June 3rd, 2011 [June 3rd, 2011]
- Stem Cells for Spinal Cord Injury: Community Outreach San Diego 2011 - Trish Stressman - June 7th, 2011 [June 7th, 2011]
- Stroke Client Gains Strength and Mobility in North Palm Beach Florida - June 9th, 2011 [June 9th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Chicago Rehabilitation Lokomat - June 10th, 2011 [June 10th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Treatment With Stem Cells - June 11th, 2011 [June 11th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Patient after Stem Cell Treatment - Wesley Hixen - June 12th, 2011 [June 12th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury - Injured Airline Pilot Flies Again - June 13th, 2011 [June 13th, 2011]
- David Chen: How would stem-cell therapies work in the treatment of spinal cord injuries? - June 17th, 2011 [June 17th, 2011]
- William Rader MD - Paralyzed Spinal Cord Injury Patient Walks Again - June 29th, 2011 [June 29th, 2011]
- The Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Team - July 4th, 2011 [July 4th, 2011]
- Introduction to the Bioness H200 Hand Rehabilitation System - July 14th, 2011 [July 14th, 2011]
- Organ repair using own stem cells -- brain, heart - Future Health keynote speaker - July 15th, 2011 [July 15th, 2011]
- 2011 Shriners Ride for Kids, Salt Lake City Utah. - July 17th, 2011 [July 17th, 2011]
- Degenerative Disc Disease: C5-C6 c6-C7 Treatment - July 18th, 2011 [July 18th, 2011]
- Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan's 60 Anniversary TV Commercial - July 18th, 2011 [July 18th, 2011]
- California Spinal Cord Injury Attorney: Obtaining damages for lifetime care. - July 19th, 2011 [July 19th, 2011]
- Physical and Mental Adjustments After a Spinal Cord Injury - July 19th, 2011 [July 19th, 2011]
- Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation - July 28th, 2011 [July 28th, 2011]
- SCI Treatment Center at the Claremont Club - July 30th, 2011 [July 30th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Inury Patient at XCell-Center- M. Hasan - August 5th, 2011 [August 5th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Inury Patient at XCell-Center- K. Potts - August 6th, 2011 [August 6th, 2011]
- Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation and Toyota 100 Cars for Good - August 13th, 2011 [August 13th, 2011]
- SCI_Celine_French_ifting_her_arms.wmv - September 1st, 2011 [September 1st, 2011]
- New Treatment May Help Paralyzed Patients Move Again By Dr.Zaghloul ahmed - September 1st, 2011 [September 1st, 2011]
- Claire Marsh - Spinal Cord Injury Part One - September 6th, 2011 [September 6th, 2011]
- Coping with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries - September 10th, 2011 [September 10th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal Cord Injury (3) - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment - Spinal Cord Injury (1) - September 20th, 2011 [September 20th, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment by Adiva Health Care India after Spinal Cord Injury - September 22nd, 2011 [September 22nd, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Documentary: You Will Never Walk Again, Part 1 - September 24th, 2011 [September 24th, 2011]
- Claire Marsh Returns - Spinal Cord Injury Patient - September 25th, 2011 [September 25th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury: Raising awareness about research and treatment for spinal cord injury - September 26th, 2011 [September 26th, 2011]
- Walking after Spinal Cord injury and Stem Cells - September 27th, 2011 [September 27th, 2011]
- New Treatments for Spinal Cord Injuries - October 10th, 2011 [October 10th, 2011]
- Claire Marsh - Spinal Cord Injury Part Two - Video - October 18th, 2011 [October 18th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury - Video - November 2nd, 2011 [November 2nd, 2011]
- Stem Cells - Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury - Video - November 2nd, 2011 [November 2nd, 2011]
- (Film Trailer) - The Spinal Cord Journey: Stem Cell Therapy Stories of Recovery - Video - November 27th, 2011 [November 27th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for T-6 Spinal Cord Injury - Video - December 7th, 2011 [December 7th, 2011]
- What is Project Walk Atlanta - Video - December 13th, 2011 [December 13th, 2011]
- Stem Cells Treatment for Spinal Cord Injuries, Successfully Results, Stem Therapy - Video - December 28th, 2011 [December 28th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury, India Mumbai - Video - January 6th, 2012 [January 6th, 2012]
- "April Crave", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 10th, 2012 [January 10th, 2012]
- "Lori Hammond", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 23rd, 2012 [January 23rd, 2012]
- "Chad C.""spinal cord Injury treatment" "spinal cord injury" "spinal cord injury recovery" - Video - January 23rd, 2012 [January 23rd, 2012]
- "Hugo Rodovalho", "Client Spotlight Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- "Cecilia V.", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- "Roy R.", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- "Angela", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- "Joey's Story", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- "Spinal Cord Injury", "A Story Of One" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- Spinal Cord Injuries - The Healing Center Project! - Video - January 28th, 2012 [January 28th, 2012]
- "Crystal H.", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 3rd, 2012 [February 3rd, 2012]
- "Dave D.", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 5th, 2012 [February 5th, 2012]
- "Brook", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 5th, 2012 [February 5th, 2012]
- "Ashley Vargas", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 6th, 2012 [February 6th, 2012]
- "Nathan Bayer", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 8th, 2012 [February 8th, 2012]
- "Annette Ross", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 8th, 2012 [February 8th, 2012]
- "Joe Guintu", "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 8th, 2012 [February 8th, 2012]
- "Trevor Comeau,"Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 9th, 2012 [February 9th, 2012]
- "Kyle Eade, "Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery" - Video - February 11th, 2012 [February 11th, 2012]
- Velomedix Receives IDE Approval to Evaluate the Use of Rapid Therapeutic Hypothermia in the Management of AMI Patients - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Neuralstem Announces Closing of $5.2-Million Registered Direct Offering - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Chamber May Open Window for Treating Spine - February 15th, 2012 [February 15th, 2012]
- InVivo Therapeutics’ CEO Frank Reynolds Scheduled to Appear on Fox News First and San Antonio Living - February 17th, 2012 [February 17th, 2012]
- High doses of 'load' slows loss of bone in spinal cord injury - February 17th, 2012 [February 17th, 2012]
- InVivo Therapeutics Announces Pricing of Public Offering of Common Stock - February 17th, 2012 [February 17th, 2012]
- High Doses of Load Slows Bone Loss in Spinal Cord Injury - February 21st, 2012 [February 21st, 2012]
- InVivo Therapeutics Announces Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option - February 22nd, 2012 [February 22nd, 2012]
- InVivo Therapeutics Announces Net $18.1M In Offering - February 22nd, 2012 [February 22nd, 2012]