Current treatments offered for SCI are symptomatic and solely aim to prevent further damage of the spinal cord due to the encountered trauma. For example, acute management of SCI involves:

• Spinal cord immobilization: This is an important initial step in management since it can prevent any further spinal cord injury for example due to vertebral fracture fragments. Immobilization can be done through using neck collars for the cervical spine and a spinal board for the rest of the back.
• Surgical management: Surgical decompression early on after the injury – especially within 72 hours of injury – might also prevent further nerve damage due to vertebral fracture or herniation, or due to the trauma-induced inflammation surrounding the spinal cord. The vertebral column is repaired, and any spinal cord compression is removed (3, 4).
• Corticosteroids: Some studies have also report benefits of using steroids in improving functioning if used early on within 8 hours of injury – though its role is controversial due to possible risk of infections during such a vulnerable period (4).
• Rehabilitation programs: These programs include early psychological support, physiotherapy, dietary support, occupational therapy, etc. All of these aim to improve functionality and provide patients with the best possible outcomes out of their present condition (5).

Despite there being constant advancements in diagnostic techniques for SCI to allow for faster interventions and better outcomes of cord injuries, and in developing better rehabilitation programs to improve survival and the quality-of-life of SCI patients; treatment itself has remained the same – with most current modalities focusing on preventing further damage to the nerves and stabilizing the patients’ conditions rather than restoring what has been damaged (2, 6).

However, we will now discuss how stem cell therapy has been emerging as a new hope for patients with SCI due to its promising regenerative abilities.