Spinal cord injury affects about 17,000 Americans each year, most often from car crashes, falls, or sports injuries. Treatment focuses on preventing further damage, managing complications like pressure sores and bladder problems, and maximizing function through rehabilitation. No FDA-approved therapy repairs the damaged spinal cord itself.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing stem cell injections that might rebuild nerve connections, electrical stimulation devices that help people regain movement or bladder control, drugs that promote nerve regrowth, and rehabilitation techniques that pair physical therapy with brain-computer interfaces. Some studies combine approaches—for example, stem cells plus electrical stimulation—to see if multiple interventions work better together.
Epidural stimulation
Devices implanted along the spine deliver electrical pulses that help the spinal cord respond to signals from the brain. Several people with complete paralysis have regained some ability to stand or walk with stimulation turned on.
Stem cell therapies
Researchers are injecting stem cells directly into injured spinal cords to see if they form new connections or protect surviving nerves. Early trials focus on safety and finding the right dose and timing after injury.
Brain-computer interfaces
Devices that decode brain signals and translate them into movement are helping people with paralysis control robotic arms or computer cursors. Newer systems aim to reconnect brain signals to muscles below the injury.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on injury level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar), completeness of injury, time since injury, and whether there's any remaining movement or sensation.
What types of trials are currently open
- Stem cell trials — Testing injections of different stem cell types into the injured spinal cord, usually within weeks to months after injury.
- Device trials — Studies of epidural stimulators, brain-computer interfaces, or robotic exoskeletons that restore movement or function.
- Drug trials — Testing medications that might protect surviving nerve cells, reduce inflammation, or encourage nerve regrowth after injury.
- Rehabilitation trials — Comparing different physical therapy approaches, often combined with electrical stimulation or other technologies.
- Observational studies — Following people with spinal cord injury to track recovery patterns, complications, and quality of life over time.
Recently added Spinal Cord Injuries trials
Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation for Respiratory Recovery in Cervical SCI
This multicenter, single-arm exploratory IIT evaluates epidural spinal cord electrical stimulation (ESCES) in 20 adults with C1-C5 SCI and respiratory failure. Participants receive ESCES plus standard care; electrodes are implanted at C3-C5 with daily individualized stimulation. Primary outcomes: Edi peak, change of Edi peak and frequency. Secondary: tidal volume, maximal inspiratory pressure, NVE, NME, diaphragm ultrasound, cough strength, 90-day ventilator-free days, ICU stay, and survival. This is the first systematic ESCES study for SCI-related respiratory failure, aiming to provide preliminary safety/efficacy data for future RCTs.
Exploration of the Effectiveness and Mechanism of Personalized Epidural Electrical Stimulation in Improving Upper Limb Function in Participants With Spinal Cord Injury
This study aimed to determine whether cervical spinal cord epidural electrical stimulation (EES) can activate upper-limb muscles in individuals with spinal cord injury.
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