May 06, 2014 in News Spinal Injury

Spinal Injury: Spinal cord injury survivors could see technological innovations

[caption id="attachment_5415" align="alignright" width="300"] (Photo credit: Mattox/SXC)[/caption] Some people involved in motor vehicle collisions can walk away without a scratch, but sometimes the injuries are serious - whether it results in a brain, burn or spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injury survivors face a huge change in their lifestyle, which unfortunately can lead to depression. But there is hope with many doctors and researchers testing out new technological devices around the world. Birth defects are one cause of a spinal cord injury, but they can also be caused by painful incidents, such as a sport injury or a bad fall. According to Spinal Cord Injury B.C., there are 44,000 spinal cord injury survivors from a traumatic incident and these numbers continue rising with 1,786 more injuries from accidents each year. An unexpected discovery during a study at the University of Louisville led to electrical stimulation helping some paralyzed patients with broken spinal cords regain movement in some of their body parts. This means another step towards helping paralyzed people walk again. At Duke University, a neuroscientist is working on creating a robotic suit that will be controlled by a person's mind. It sounds like something out of the movies, but if everything goes accordingly, then a paralyzed teen may be the first person to kick the ball at the 2014 Fifa Cup in Sao Paulo. Miguel Nicolelis as done decades of testing with neuroprosthetics that have given car crash survivors and injured soldiers, along with others, the ability to be independent. Electrodes are implanted into a person's brain to help reach thousand of neurons to help control the prosthetics. And there has been progress over many years, which offers hope for those with disabilities. A Nova Scotian family is hoping to buy an exoskeleton suit to give their daughter, Amy, a chance to walk again after a car crash. She was paralyzed in 2009 and doctors told her she would never walk again. With the Ekso, a wearable exoskeleton suit, she hopes to prove them wrong. But the exoskeleton has a high price tag of $80,000 and the family is hoping to raise enough money to buy it. While the NeuRx Diaphragm Pacing System (DPS) is helping quadraplegics breathe on their own. Gabriel Abotossaway was no longer able to complete what was once a simple feat after a car accident in 2011. He's unable to move his diaphragm and the doctors told him he would have to use a ventilator for the rest of his life. His family paid $31,000 or the device, which has only recently been approved by Health Canada. Laparoscopic surgery is required to attach electrodes to the diaphragm. These new devices are letting patients in need of respirators to stay at home rather than remain hospitalized. Prosthetics are even getting to the point where they not only restore function, but also senses. European researchers have created a bionic hand that lets the wearer differentiate between the texture and shape of the object they touch, which a Danish man was able to quickly adapt his grip when using the device. Adapting to an injury is difficult, but there are scientists working around the globe to help the disabled regain some functionality. If you have had an accident and are now coping with a spinal cord injury, your life has been significantly changed. Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers are here for you and have been handling all types of injuries for over 40 years. We understand the impacts they can have on you and we can help fight your case. Call us at 416-920-4242. Set up a free consultation and come chat with us.