Spinal cord stimulation helps paralysed patients stand and walk again

In one such development, a team from the Minnesota-based medical research centre the Mayo Clinic and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has used an implanted spinal cord stimulator to help a man paralysed from the chest down since 2013 regain his ability to stand and walk with assistance.

The 29 year old patient, Jered Chinnock, injured his spinal cord at the thoracic vertebrae in the middle of his back in a snowmobile accident in 2013 and was diagnosed with a complete loss of function below the middle of his torso.

In the study, which is reported in Nature Medicine, Chinnock had an electrode implanted into the epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal, at a specific location below the injured area. The electrode connects to a pulse generator device under the skin of his abdomen and communicates wirelessly with an external controller.

During 113 rehabilitation sessions, over which time the researchers adjusted stimulation settings, trainer assistance, harness support and treadmill speed Chinnock was able to walk over ground using a front-wheeled walker and step on a treadmill placing his arms on support bars to help with balance. However, when stimulation was off, he remained paralysed. Amazingly, over the course of 25 weeks his condition improved to the point where by the end of the period, he no longer needed a harness to reduce his risk of falling, and required only occasional help from trainers.