As a serious injury solicitor I have represented
a number of clients who have sustained spinal cord injuries and have supported
them through the court system. Beyond their injury, one thing which they have
all had in common has been that having been told by their doctors that their
paralysis is permanent, with the passage of time they have all adapted in a way
which has shown off the best of human qualities. They have shown courage, dignity,
adaptability and spirit to rebuild their lives such that they can rightly lead
a happy, fulfilling and in many cases inspiring life.
But will specialist doctors who practice in
the field of spinal cord injury always have to give such a negative prognosis
to their patients? And will those who sustain spinal cord injury always have to
face such devastating news about their future?
Recent research undertaken in the USA suggests
perhaps not. The research which I am referring to has been in the press this
month having recently been reported in the medical journal Brain.
In short, the research involved 4 paralysed
participants who had complete spinal cord injuries ranging from C7–T5 and all
of whom were at least two years post-injury at the time of the intervention. They
each underwent epidural spinal cord stimulation and all demonstrated an ability
to voluntarily move their hips, ankles and toes. They also displayed other
improvements in their overall health, including increases in muscle mass and
regulation of their blood pressure, as well as reduced fatigue and dramatic
improvements to their sense of wellbeing.
The
research has been described as groundbreaking. And although much further
research must surely follow in order to bring real change to the spinally
injured population at large, it challenges the belief that no functional
recovery is possible.
And further, along with inventive and technical
developments such as ReWalk, the exoskeleton mobility aid, research such as
this must give hope to many that one day, they may be
able once again to bear weight, balance and walk independently. And these
developments will be all the more significant for future spinal cord injury
patients.
As
a lawyer who represents spinally injured individuals I keenly await yet further
developments and must be vigilant as to whether progressive technology or
treatment can benefit my clients. The law has it’s limitations but with the
theory behind compensation payments being to put the injured party back in the
position they would have been but for their injury (in-so-far as money can),
surely these sorts of developments have the potential to help the law fulfil
it’s own aim.
For
more information about epidural stimulation studies and other spinal cord injury
research,
please
visit http://www.chartingourcourse.org/research/victory
and/or http://www.christopherreeve.org/epi.
For information about ReWalk please visit www.cyclonemobility.com/rewalk.
Will Cornwell – Fentons Solicitors (part of Slater and Gordon
Lawyers)
Associate Solicitor
Email – will.cornwell@fentons.co.uk
Telephone – 020 7400 0225
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