Possibilities of regeneration after spinal cord injury or severing

Abstract

We intended to demonstrate that spinal cord injury should not be regarded anymore as a hopeless inevitability. There are many research axes. Obstacle to regrowth exists on the biological plane. Ideological barrier also exists among men. The various factors involved in the posttraumatic lesional mechanisms and the different research paths on repair confirm the scale of the issue. It can be solved at the level of one mechanism among others and any physician confronted with this possibility of axonal regrowth should bear in mind the whole range of related phenomena. However, we can only envisage the future by sharing the results, with a global approach of the issues in order to achieve the expected regrowth in the best possible conditions. Fundamental research is indispensable and constitutes the basis for any progress. Clinical research in human beings should logically take over. It must be repeated that everything is settled at a very early stage and surgical decompression as well as recalibration should be therefore considered as an emergency. It concerns all researchers, surgeons, physical therapists, without overlooking the main figure, i.e. the cord injured patient. In this day and age when all the information is available on the internet, there are too many false hopes raised by a delusive article, far too many abuses committed to the detriment of patients for venal purposes. It is up to us to create cohesion, to share our impressions, our certainties but also our misgivings. There is still a long way to go, however at the beginning of this 21st century, optimism should be our guide.