Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) are caused by trauma to the spinal cord that impairs physical function, mobility or feeling. The majority of patients suffering from SCI have an intact spinal cord, but still have enough cellular damage to result in a loss of physical functioning. The effects caused by SCI depend heavily on the type of injury and the level of injury. A spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma. Spinal cord injuries often cause changes in strength, body function and movement.
The rationale of utilizing highly concentrated mesenchymal cells is to provide the patient with a a stem cell spinal cord treatment that stimulates his / her immune system, promotes cellular regeneration and improves symptoms associated with spinal cord injuries Cellular therapy utilizes regenerative stem cells targeted to specific areas in order to repair cellular damage that was caused from spinal cord injuries. Also, this therapy with stem cells for spine repair helps control inflammation and promotes regeneration that may improve a SCI patient’s ability to move and feel.
The endovascular/intravenous treatment containing Adult Stem Cell should serve to complement the patient’s current treatment regimen or to promote healing when current treatment is not responding.
Published improvements include improved ASIA scores, improved bladder and/or bowel function, recovered sexual function, and increased muscle control.
The rationale of utilizing highly concentrated mesenchymal cells is to provide the patient with a treatment that stimulates his / her immune system, promotes cellular regeneration and improves symptoms associated with spinal cord injuries Cellular therapy utilizes regenerative stem cells targeted to specific areas in order to repair cellular damage that was caused from spinal cord injuries. Also, this therapy helps control inflammation and promotes regeneration that may improve a SCI patient’s ability to move and feel.
The endovascular/intravenous treatment containing Adult Stem Cell should serve to complement the patient’s current treatment regimen or to promote healing when current treatment is not responding.
Published improvements include improved ASIA scores, improved bladder and/or bowel function, recovered sexual function, and increased muscle control.
Spinal cord injuries can be described as various levels of incomplete, where complete means total loss of function. Recent studies have focused on the use of adult stem cells for spinal cord injury patients. It has been discovered that introduction of mesenchymal stem cells either intralesionally or intravenously can be successful in improving functional recovery in chronic spinal cord injuries, providing an effective stem cell spinal cord treatment. There are two types of SCI injuries:
Complete: A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of the injury; no sensation and no voluntary movement. Both sides of the body are equally affected.
Incomplete: An incomplete injury means that there is some functioning below the primary level of the injury. A person with an incomplete injury may be able to move one limb more than another, may be able to feel parts of the body that cannot be moved, or may have more functioning on one side of the body than the other. With incomplete injuries there will be some variation in these prognoses.
Spinal cord injuries can be described as various levels of incomplete, where complete means total loss of function. Recent studies have focused on the use of adult stem cells for spinal cord injury patients. It has been discovered that introduction of mesenchymal stem cells either intralesionally or intravenously can be successful in improving functional recovery in chronic spinal cord injuries. There are two types of SCI injuries:
Complete: A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of the injury; no sensation and no voluntary movement. Both sides of the body are equally affected.
Incomplete: An incomplete injury means that there is some functioning below the primary level of the injury. A person with an incomplete injury may be able to move one limb more than another, may be able to feel parts of the body that cannot be moved, or may have more functioning on one side of the body than the other. With incomplete injuries there will be some variation in these prognoses.
Experience our Individually-Center approach for deep regeneration and wellbeing through our leading-edge cellular therapies
When we treat a medical condition such as a spinal cord injury, we are just treating the condition, not curing it. Neither fresh cells nor cultured cells can cure every disease, but they can do great things as far as reducing the severity of symptoms and stopping the advancement of the condition. Normally, in a lot of chronic degenerative conditions or neurological conditions, several treatments will be needed because the effect of cellular therapies has a time limit. Our unique approach includes a multi-dose treatment plan for spinal cord injury repair, in which we apply the cells once, with follow-ups at three, six, and nine month mark. If symptoms begin to occur, another round of treatment is needed.
Our comprehensive stem cell spinal cord treatment protocols employ well-targeted combinations of Exosomes, allogeneic human Mesenchymal cells, and autologous bone marrow and Adipose derived stem cells to treat the diseases and conditions listed previously. Our treatment plans are mostly focused on a systemic or whole-body approach to ensure these patients receive the highest quality and quantity of cellular products during their time in our hospital.
Of the different kinds of cellular products available for use, there are two main sources that can be used to target the conditions that have been previously discussed.
Autologous procedures are those in which the patient is their own donor for the cellular therapy treatment. In these kinds of procedures, a doctor takes a sample (usually of bone marrow or adipose tissue) and harvests the cells from it, before administering it locally to the diseased or damaged area.
Allogeneic procedures are those in which the patient receives cells that have been sourced from a donor that is not the patient. These samples are neonatal tissue and are comprised of umbilical cord blood. They are extensively screened to ensure the quality and health of the cells.
The type of treatment used depends on a variety of factors, including medical history and age, but at the Cellular Hope Institute, we endeavor to give each patient a personalized, case-by-case treatment plan to ensure that the only possible outcome is a positive one. So, if you are looking to leverage the power of stem cells for spinal injury, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
After you’ve been selected as a candidate for a stem cell spinal cord treatment, you will meet with our highly-trained team of medical professionals to devise a treatment plan tailored specifically to have the best results possible given your current condition. Below we will outline the different methods of administering cellular therapies that we use in our medical facilities:
intrathecal-intraarterial
This form of implantation is ideal for neurological conditions because the stem cells are injected past the blood-brain barrier and directly into the spinal fluid, which enables them to reach the spinal cord and brain.
During the procedure, an experienced anesthesiologist inject stem cells into the spinal canal through the lower vertebrae under local anesthesia. They are all performed in a positive airflow room under sterile conditions, and the procedure usually takes about thirty minutes.
Intravenous IV
The safest and simplest method for delivering the stem cells throughout the body. Anesthesia is not required. We may use Lidocaine topical spray to needle prick the area beforehand. IV administration usually takes about 20 – 30 minutes.
Intramuscular IM
The stem cells are injected directly into the muscle. Intramuscular implantation is very safe and does not require anesthesia.
A treatment of minimally manipulated, or autologous, stem cells is one in which the patient’s own cells are used to treat their spinal cord injury without being grown in a laboratory setting. These treatments, while minimally invasive, can only reach a third of the total cell count that could be obtained under more complex laboratory processes, leaving them useful for certain conditions, but not potent enough for more advanced degenerative or neurodegenerative conditions.
Highly-manipulated cellular therapies are those that use a laboratory to culture and expand cells through the cell’s population. Through this process, samples of cells are grown to contain larger quantities of Mesenchymal Stem Cells, which leads to better patient results. In the case of complex conditions, including chronic degenerative conditions or neurodegenerative conditions, the best results are obtained through an infusion of a larger amount of cells directly to the diseased area. This is an invasive procedure, and because of that it requires a large, highly-specialized medical team to carry it out. That is the reason why many patients are opting to find the best results in the best facilities available, which are overseas, since current regulations prevent practices in the States from treating their patients in this manner.
Reach out to us to learn more about our therapies with stem cells for spinal injury in Mexico.
The Cellular Hope Institute’s offices are located in the Amerimed Hospital in Cancun, which is accredited both by the Mexican General Health Council and the Canadian Accreditation Council. There, we have a highly-qualified team in many specialties, including pediatricians, radiologists, neurologists, anesthesiologists and regenerative medicine specialists, who convene with each other to produce the most reliable, efficable patient experience available.
Aside from it’s proximity to the United States and pleasant climate and sights, Our facilities in Cancun are top-notch, and include a laboratory to culture-expand cells, a process that yields better patient results, and a cryopreservation unit to keep these extracted samples stored safely until they are needed.
Before the first day of treatment with stem cells for spine repair, we go over the patient’s medical history, including previous and current treatments including physical therapy and cognitive therapy. We interview the patients to know more about them in order to form a custom treatment plan. On your first day in Cancun, we have scheduled a time for you to meet your medical team and ask them any questions you have, as well as for them to walk you through the treatment you will be undergoing.
Services Included In Your Treatment
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Your journey will begin as you depart from your hometown for beautiful Cancún, México. In Cancún they will be greeted at the International Airport by our patient coordinator, then transferred to your accommodations. Once settled in, the patient coordinator will provide them a welcome package that will contain:
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- City vouchers.
- A list of frequently asked questions.
- Contact info during your stay.
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First Consultation
The day before your procedure takes place, you will have a one-on-one with your specialized team, at which point your attending physician will go over your procedure and expectations. At this time, you may ask your doctor any additional questions you may have. This day will include:
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- Analysis of current condition of the patient.
- New lab tests run.
- Specialist doctor evaluation according to the medical condition to be treated.
- Anesthesia evaluation.
- Establishment of final protocols to follow according to previous indicators.
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Treatment Day
You will be picked up two hours before the procedure is scheduled to begin, please ensure that you do not eat eight hours before the procedure.
Once you arrive at the hospital you will be asked to sign all the necessary patient consent forms and you will be prepped for your procedure.
The procedure will take 3-4 hours, once the cells are harvested and prepared they will be administered to the patient in accordance with their . After the procedure is complete you will either be returned to your hotel or, depending on the procedure, your hospital suite for overnight observation.
A standard procedure for highly manipulated stem cells cell would be the following:
Extraction of bone marrow or fat sample. In the case of young children, who do not have very much adipose tissue, a bone marrow extraction through the iliac crest (hip bone) is usually performed.
Procedure is performed with local anesthesia and sedation, meaning there is little pain.After the sample is extracted, it is processed and isolated to obtain fresh mesenchymal cells. Approximately 80% of the mesenchymal cells obtained go directly to the patient, either through arterial catheterization in the case of neurological illness, or intrathecally to other damaged organs. The other 20% are sent to the lab to be expanded, a process which is known as the high manipulation of stem cells. The patient stays overnight for close clinical motoring.
Post-Operative Care
The day after the patient’s procedure, you will go to your follow up appointment, where your garment and bandages will be removed, your incisions will be cleaned and inspected, and you will get your first ultrasound scan.
Booster with highly manipulated stem cells:
(Sixth day stay). The physician or patient coordinator will notify you for the procedure with the stem cells that have been expanded in the laboratory. The patient receives a final booster through systematic approach via intravenous line with the cultured cells.
After this, the physician team will make a final evaluation and, most likely, discharge the patient.
Departure day
A driver will pick you and the patient up at your accommodation, and you will be dropped off at the airport at least two hours prior to your flight’s departure. Your patient coordinator will let you know when the next virtual consultation will take place.
After the first session of your stem cell spinal cord treatment, results can already begin to make themselves apparent, but this depends largely on the type of disease/condition the patient is afflicted with, as well as its severity and current phase of progression. Once the stem cell treatment begins, the body needs a minimum of four weeks to recognize the initial regenerative effects, which become more apparent at the six-month mark. Regenerative medicine is considered a multi-dose treatment, and reinforcements are usually required every six to twelve months. However, depending on a patient’s condition, they could be needed up to twenty-four months after the initial procedure. This is why cryogenically banking and storing stem cells is extremely important.
There is a virtual Assessment for Follow-Up treatment that serves as monitoring for the patient’s condition, and will be requested both before and after the treatment. In addition, there will continue to be post-treatment assessments required to ensure the positive development of your spinal cord injury repair.
While stem cell therapy is an extremely safe alternative to many other invasive surgeries and therapies, it is not without its risks. However, these risks can be mitigated by selecting highly-trained, certified experts to perform your procedure. At The Cellular Hope Institute, we take every possible step and procedure to ensure a safe surgery conducted as quickly as can be safely done. During your consultation, you can bring forward any other questions or expectations with our expert physicians to learn more about your stem cell spinal cord treatment.
Understanding your spinal cord injury
In order to understand the nuances of your stem cell spinal cord treatment, you will need to get a better understanding of your spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries may result from damage to the vertebrae, ligaments or disks of the spinal column or to the spinal cord itself.
A traumatic spinal cord injury may stem from a sudden, traumatic blow to your spine that fractures, dislocates, crushes or compresses one or more of your vertebrae. It may also result from a gunshot or knife wound that penetrates and cuts your spinal cord.
Additional damage usually occurs over days or weeks because of bleeding, swelling, inflammation and fluid accumulation in and around your spinal cord.
A nontraumatic spinal cord injury may be caused by arthritis, cancer, inflammation, infections or disk degeneration of the spine.
Your brain and central nervous system
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The spinal cord, made of soft tissue and surrounded by bones (vertebrae), extends downward from the base of your brain and is made up of nerve cells and groups of nerves called tracts, which go to different parts of your body.
The lower end of your spinal cord stops a little above your waist in the region called the conus medullaris. Below this region is a group of nerve roots called the cauda equina.
Tracts in your spinal cord carry messages between your brain and the rest of your body. Motor tracts carry signals from your brain to control muscle movement. Sensory tracts carry signals from body parts to your brain relating to heat, cold, pressure, pain and the position of your limbs.
Damage to nerve fibers
Whether the cause is traumatic or nontraumatic, the damage affects the nerve fibers passing through the injured area and may impair part or all of your corresponding muscles and nerves below the injury site.
A chest (thoracic) or lower back (lumbar) injury can affect your torso, legs, bowel and bladder control, and sexual function. A neck (cervical) injury affects the same areas in addition to affecting movements of your arms and, possibly, your ability to breathe. Stem cells for spine repair can be highly effective for alleviating these symptoms.
Patient management Initial patient evaluation
Reviews the medical information, lab work, and diagnostic imaging provided by the patient in order to determine the stage of the medical condition and any other secondary conditions. Application and scoring of the quality of life questionnaires appropriate for specific conditions.
The protocol for a stem cell spinal cord treatment will be assigned by staff physicians after the patient has submitted all requested medical information and received approval. A patient’s recommended protocol may differ from the example given below.
Treatment duration: 5 days
- 1 intrathecal (spinal canal) injections of expanded umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells.
- 2 intravenous injections (IV) expanded umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells.
Follow-up plan:
3 months after Stem Cell implant:
Clinical evaluation of spinal cord injury based on the Frankel Score and the ASIA Scale. Review & record current laboratory determinations.
6 months after Stem Cell implant:
Clinical evaluation of spinal cord injury based on the Frankel Score, ASIA Scale and Manual Muscle Test. Review & record current laboratory determinations.
Patient management Initial patient evaluation
Reviews the medical information, lab work, and diagnostic imaging provided by the patient in order to determine the stage of the medical condition and any other secondary conditions. Application and scoring of the quality of life questionnaires appropriate for specific conditions.
Treatment protocol will be assigned by staff physicians after the patient has submitted all requested medical information and received approval. A patient’s recommended protocol may differ from the example given below.
Treatment duration: 5 days
- 1 intrathecal (spinal canal) injections of expanded umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells.
- 2 intravenous injections (IV) expanded umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells.
Follow-up plan:
3 months after Stem Cell implant:
Clinical evaluation of spinal cord injury based on the Frankel Score and the ASIA Scale. Review & record current laboratory determinations.
6 months after Stem Cell implant:
Clinical evaluation of spinal cord injury based on the Frankel Score, ASIA Scale and Manual Muscle Test. Review & record current laboratory determinations.
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Contact Us to discuss your treatment at Cellular Hope Institute
Contact Us to discuss your treatment at Cellular Hope Institute
FAQ
For spinal cord injuries, stem cell treatments primarily involve the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), neural stem cells, and olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs). These cells are aimed at promoting nerve regeneration and improving neurological function. Treatments are often experimental and conducted within clinical trials.
The success rate of stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries varies widely due to the experimental nature of these treatments. Preliminary studies have shown promising results in improving motor and sensory functions, but comprehensive, long-term success rates are still being researched. Outcomes can depend significantly on the type of stem cells used, the injury’s severity, and the timing of the treatment.
Stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries can pose risks like infection, immune rejection, and tumor development. Other side effects may include pain at the injection site, headache, fever, and nausea. The long-term effects are still under study.
The time to see improvements after stem cell therapy for spinal cord injuries can vary. Some patients may notice changes within weeks, while for others, it might take months. The extent of improvement also depends on the injury severity and the specific stem cell protocol used. Continuous monitoring and follow-up are essential to assess progress.
Currently, stem cell therapy cannot completely cure spinal cord injuries. While it has shown potential in promoting some degree of nerve regeneration and functional recovery, it primarily aids in symptom management and partial improvement of motor and sensory functions. Full restoration of spinal cord integrity and function remains a significant challenge.