Spinal cord injury

It is anticipated that the first attempts to repair spinal cord injury will lead to regeneration of nerve fibres across 2 or 3 injured spinal cord segments. These interventions are likely to be carried out on patients with spinal injury in the thoracic part of the spinal cord to avoid risk to surviving innervation of arms and legs. Functionally, the thoracic spinal cord provides motor innervation of abdominal, spinal and respiratory as well as the sensory innervation of the trunk. Little is known about the neurophysiological pathways in this part of the spinal cord. The aim of this initiative is to establish reliable techniques to assess changes in clinical neurology, motor, sensory and autonomic function, and structure (imaging) in patients with spinal cord injury. The Clinical Initiative and the Fellowship form collaboration between Sensorimotor and other Departments within Neurosciences at Imperial College and the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Collaborators from Stoke Mandeville

Professor Hans Frankel

Dr Gordana Savic