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On the 21st of October a medical breakthrough was announced proving the impossible possible. Darek Fidyka, a victim of spinal cord paralysis who couldn't move his body below the waist for 4 years, is now able to feel sensation, walk and even drive again.
Darek Fidyka, 40, a Bulgarian firefighter was stabbed in the back in 2010, leaving his spine severed in half. The severity of this attack left him paralysed from the waist down, abruptly stopping him from carrying out normal day to day tasks. His chance of recovery would have been only 1% if it wasn't for a historic medical breakthrough. He is now the first in the world to be successfully treated from serious paralysis, now feeling hot and cold, experiencing pins and needles, walking and even driving.
How was this done?
The University College London led a new technique for treating paralysis of the spinal cord. Cells from Fidyka's nose called the Olfactory Ensheathing Cells (OEC), were the main components that were used. They are responsible for transmitting smell signals to the brain, and there are only a limited number of these in the nervous system that can constantly regenerate. These cells were transplanted to the 8mm gap in his spine. They were then able to grow new nerve fibres which joined to complete the spine once again. This was helped with a nerve tissue skin graft from the ankle which supported the growth of these spinal neurons.
With the broken link now fixed, Fidyka can now find it easier to carry out normal tasks, and live a more independent life. This "historic breakthrough" is hoped to help millions of more victims in the world that suffer from this restricting disease.
sources that helped me: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/10/22/paralyzed-man-walks-nose-cells-transplanted-spinal-cord/#.VElM2Ve9a1w
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/spinal-cord-injuries-and-the-reality-of-medical-breakthroughs-9809310.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2800988/world-man-spinal-cord-severed-walks-paralysed-fireman-recovers-thanks-uk-research.html
Darek Fidyka, 40, a Bulgarian firefighter was stabbed in the back in 2010, leaving his spine severed in half. The severity of this attack left him paralysed from the waist down, abruptly stopping him from carrying out normal day to day tasks. His chance of recovery would have been only 1% if it wasn't for a historic medical breakthrough. He is now the first in the world to be successfully treated from serious paralysis, now feeling hot and cold, experiencing pins and needles, walking and even driving.
How was this done?
The University College London led a new technique for treating paralysis of the spinal cord. Cells from Fidyka's nose called the Olfactory Ensheathing Cells (OEC), were the main components that were used. They are responsible for transmitting smell signals to the brain, and there are only a limited number of these in the nervous system that can constantly regenerate. These cells were transplanted to the 8mm gap in his spine. They were then able to grow new nerve fibres which joined to complete the spine once again. This was helped with a nerve tissue skin graft from the ankle which supported the growth of these spinal neurons.
With the broken link now fixed, Fidyka can now find it easier to carry out normal tasks, and live a more independent life. This "historic breakthrough" is hoped to help millions of more victims in the world that suffer from this restricting disease.
sources that helped me: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/10/22/paralyzed-man-walks-nose-cells-transplanted-spinal-cord/#.VElM2Ve9a1w
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/spinal-cord-injuries-and-the-reality-of-medical-breakthroughs-9809310.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2800988/world-man-spinal-cord-severed-walks-paralysed-fireman-recovers-thanks-uk-research.html