Paralysed man Darek Fidyka walks again after pioneering surgery

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: Guardian

A man who was completely paralysed from the waist down can walk again after a British-funded surgical breakthrough which offers hope to millions of people who are disabled by spinal cord injuries.

Polish surgeons used nerve-supporting cells from the nose of Darek Fidyka, a Bulgarian man who was injured four years ago, to provide pathways along which the broken tissue was able to grow.

The 38-year-old, who is believed to be the first person in the world to recover from complete severing of the spinal nerves, can now walk with a frame and has been able to resume an independent life, even to the extent of driving a car, while sensation has returned to his lower limbs.

Professor Geoffrey Raisman, whose team at University College London’s institute of neurology discovered the technique, said: “We believe that this procedure is the breakthrough which, as it is further developed, will result in a historic change in the currently hopeless outlook for people disabled by spinal cord injury.”

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/oct/21/paralysed-darek-fidyka-pioneering-surgery

[merrily]

1. Great news. Thank you, mv.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. Wow. That's great news. Hopefully they can move this along.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. "Polish surgeons used nerve-supporting cells from the nose of Darek Fidyka"

Why did this come to mind?

[virgdem]

22. "don't move or the nose gets it"

one of my favorite Woody movies!

[msongs]

4. good news from a scientific view point. hope it's available for many who need it nt

[SamKnause]

5. Amazingly wonderful news !!!!

The United States government squanders the tax dollars of its citizens

by perpetual warmongering

with military bases the world over

weapons manufacturing

a war against cannabis

incarcerating its citizens

and spying the world over.

Imagine what could have been accomplished with the TRILLIONS that have been squandered by the U.S. government and The Military Industrial Complex.

There is no logical reason in the 21st century for anyone to be hungry, homeless, or without medical care.

The U.S. has its priorities.

Medical care for its citizens is not high on the list.

The U.S. could have been a shining example for all countries to follow.

Alas, that opportunity has been squandered by our shadowy overlords.

SORRY for the rant.

I am just disgusted by the health care system in the U.S.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

23. A clip I extracted from the Malloy Show over a decade ago....

http://server4.whiterosesociety.org/content/malloy/MalloyMemories/Money_matters.mp3

[SamKnause]

24. Thank you.

[xocet]

6. Will this result garner the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine?

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/

[Cha]

7. Wonderfully Amazing! A glimpse of our future in repairing spinal cord injuries. mahalo, muriel

[sunnystarr]

8. this is so HUGE!!! (nt)

[Unknown Beatle]

9. Fantastic!

Finally, a breakthrough and I believe the first major discovery in medicine in the 21st century.

[get the red out]

10. What a wonderful brealthrough

So happy for all this will help.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Amazing. What a healing relief this will be to people who desperately need it. n/t

[LeftishBrit]

12. k&r - hope this really does prove to be a breakthrough.

[democrank]

13. Wonderful!

As word gets out, many will finally have hope.

[raccoon]

14. Great news! recd. nt

[FailureToCommunicate]

15. Amazing advance! Seems like this could be used for repairing nerve damage elsewhere

Thinking of all the vets, and car accident victims for whom this gives hope...

[theHandpuppet]

16. Fabulous News!!!

Thanks for posting this!

[Melinda]

17. This honors my brother Patrick C. Thompson; 13 yrs a quadraplegic, he knew this day would come.

You were right, Pat, you were right. Always missing and loving you, Pat. And happy tears today for all those impacted and their families too....

**On edit. My brother died long ago and so I don't believe I've violated anyone's privacy save my own. And today I am screaming with joy for those like him and their families too - and I'm screaming it here.

[malthaussen]

26. A toast to Patrick!

-- Mal

[Melinda]

38. Here, here.

Thank you.

[BrotherIvan]

36. Your post brought me to tears

Beautiful (and please don't apologize). I am cheering with you. I can't imagine what a difference this would make.

[Melinda]

39. Mine are glistening too...

Lovely sentiment, thank you for honoring my brother and all those similarly affected by spinal cord injuries. Bless you, Ivan

[BrotherIvan]

40. Back atcha

[gerryatwork]

18. We are not a civilized society...

because we put the profits of a select few ahead of the majority of it's citizens. We don't see these kinds of innovations in the US because our "investment" mainly by the drug cartels is trying to create drugs that a person might need to walk again that cost $10,000 per month for the rest of their lives. Of course if one were found they would probably cost a small percentage of that to the civilized countries throughout the world. We have more guns than people, it is OK for a white policeman to shoot and kill African Americans (unless of course they are caught red handed on camera). The banks can borrow all the money they want at 1/2 % and get bailed out if they become "too big to fail" while a student has to pay 6% and can't declare bankruptcy. There is no universal health care like civilized countries. I can go on and on but in reality the US is no longer a civilized society.

[gordianot]

35. You are 100% correct.

[valerief]

19. Holy cow! Amazing. nt

[Sunlei]

20. improvement from a tiny bridge!, imagine when they can add more cells(stem?)/bridges!

Great news and medical science breakthrough for "University College London’s institute of neurology"

[Nye Bevan]

21. LOVE LOVE LOVE this story! Huge K&R! (nt)

[malthaussen]

25. Indelicate wondering...

Injuries of this nature can impair or impede male sexual functioning. I wonder if the repair work has done anything for that? Sure, it's nice to walk and all, but just think...

-- Mal

[RedSpartan]

27. Perfectly legitimate question.

The goal of the return of normal function after paralysis is just that: the return of normal function in all respects. And sexual function is a big part of human life and health. That said, I don't know the answer, but I assume (hope) that the regenerated nerve cells would allow all of the brain's signals to travel, for everything, including, you know, that.

[nomorenomore08]

28. If he has sensation below the waist (per the OP) then I don't see why not.

Sexual function persists even in many cases of spinal injury, so long as the cord isn't totally severed.

[catchnrelease]

30. Not so far

I followed a link in the comments below the article in the OP, and it led to the site of NSIF that does the funding. Here is part of the information there:


"Through cell transplantation surgery, followed by intensive rehabilitation over a period of more than two years, the scientists nsif supports have been able to restore assisted walking and some sensation to one patient.

At the moment, there are no indications of improvement in bladder, bowel and sexual function. These are under investigation. There are encouraging signs, but the scientists cannot be certain at this point where these will lead.

There is no research as yet that suggests spinal injured people could make a complete recovery and return to their condition before the injury, but the latest breakthrough suggests their quality of life could be vastly improved."

At least they have made a start, and it should lead to more/better techniques going forward.

[Arugula Latte]

29. Science for the win yet again!

[Kalidurga]

31. I think this is the best news of the year.

I only hope that this news also shows what can be accomplished when people work together. That peace and prosperity is a better path than war and destruction. It's a beautiful story and I would love to see this ripple outward not only for those who are paralyzed, but others who have nerve damage. I would like people to be inspired to work toward positive goals rather than the goal of hurting others. Yeah, I am a dreamer.

[Initech]

32. Finally some good news for once!!!

[Sheepshank]

33. it cannot be overstated how huge this is!

*tears*

[gordianot]

34. Done in the country with Socialized Medicine that is ridiculed by American Republicans.

[BrotherIvan]

37. Yup

Funded by a country with socialized medicine too.