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Spinal Cord Transplant: First Human Trial in Moscow
31 Oct
Summary
- A Chinese surgeon performed the world's first human spinal cord transplant.
- The procedure used a biological glue to fuse a donor's spinal cord.
- The patient, facing immobility, now has a chance for recovery.
A pioneering medical procedure, the world's first human-to-human spinal cord transplant, was recently completed in Moscow, Russia. The surgery, conducted at the Sklifosovsky Institute for Emergency Medicine, was led by Chinese surgeon Xiaoping Ren.
Ren's innovative technique involved transplanting a segment from a brain-dead donor's spinal cord into a recipient. This groundbreaking operation, lasting 12 hours, utilized polyethylene glycol (PEG), a biological glue, to facilitate the fusion of the donor's spinal cord to the patient's.
According to Moscow's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, the patient was facing complete immobility and now has a chance for recovery, reportedly feeling well post-surgery. This procedure aims to offer hope to millions globally living with debilitating spinal cord injuries.
While animal studies, including a recent study on pigs using a similar glue, have shown promise, the scientific community remains cautious. Experts express skepticism regarding the surgery's ethics, effectiveness, and patient well-being, emphasizing the risks involved in such a substantial procedure.
