United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc. • VENTRAL ROOT REPAIR SHOWING THE BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF TRANSPLANTING OECs
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VENTRAL ROOT REPAIR SHOWING THE BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF TRANSPLANTING OECs

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:53 pm
by Christopher
Ran across this study abstract and thought I'd share it. Wish I had access to the full text.

This is the first notice I've read that speaks of possible complications or risks with nerve root re-implantion. I imagine risks are abundent in that type of complex surgery (as I've read about DREZ technique for pain reduction). I wonder if this is what has been holding up the TBPI trials in the UK for the past 2 plus years.


http://www.neurosurgery-online.com/pt/r ... 28!8091!-1
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AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF VENTRAL ROOT REPAIR SHOWING THE BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF TRANSPLANTING OLFACTORY ENSHEATHING CELLS.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES


April 2007
Neurosurgery. 60(4):734-741.

Li, Ying Ph.D.; Yamamoto, Mie M.Sc.; Raisman, Geoffrey M.D., Ph.D.; Choi, David M.D., Ph.D.; Carlstedt, Thomas M.D., Ph.D.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: A series of published cases show that repair of brachial plexus injuries by reimplantation of avulsed spinal roots can restore a degree of recovery, particularly to the more proximal shoulder and arm musculature in a proportion of patients. There remains, however, some disagreement regarding how far the benefits outweigh the risks of causing further spinal cord damage. Improving the number of motor fibers regenerating into the reimplanted ventral roots may enhance the muscular recovery, possibly extending it to the more useful distal musculature that would restore a degree of wrist and finger functions.

METHODS: This study was based on our previous rat model showing regeneration of severed fibers and resumption of function after transplantation of cultured adult olfactory ensheathing cells into spinal cord injuries and reimplanted dorsal roots.

RESULTS: We now report that olfactory ensheathing cells transplanted at the spinal cord interface of reimplanted S1 ventral roots survive and migrate selectively into the ventral root where they associate intimately with regenerating ventral root fibers. Whereas only approximately 20% of the normal complement of fibers enter roots reimplanted without olfactory ensheathing cells, this increases to 80% in the presence of olfactory ensheathing cell transplants.

CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that transplants of olfactory ensheathing cells could improve the outcome of ventral root repair.

Copyright (C) by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons