Spinal cord injuries affect about 17,000 people in the United States each year, mostly from vehicle crashes, falls, or sports injuries. Most people with spinal cord injury have incomplete injuries, meaning some nerve signals still get through. Current treatment focuses on preventing further damage, rehabilitation, and managing complications like bladder dysfunction and pain.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing stem cells to replace damaged tissue, nerve growth factors that may promote repair, electrical stimulation to restore movement or bladder control, and brain-computer interfaces that bypass the injury entirely. Researchers are also studying drugs that protect surviving nerve cells in the hours after injury, when immediate treatment could preserve more function.
Epidural stimulation
Devices implanted near the spinal cord deliver timed electrical pulses that help restore walking, standing, or bladder control in some people with complete injuries. Multiple centers now offer this approach through trials and expanded access programs.
Stem cell therapies
Several trials are injecting stem cells directly into the injured spinal cord to replace lost cells and reduce inflammation. Early results show safety, and some studies report modest improvements in sensation or movement.
Acute neuroprotection
Drugs given within hours of injury aim to prevent the cascade of inflammation and cell death that happens in the first days. Trials are testing approaches that could be administered by paramedics or in emergency rooms.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on injury level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar), completeness of injury, time since injury, and remaining function measured on standard scales.
What types of trials are currently open
- Stem cell trials — Testing whether injecting stem cells into or near the injured spinal cord can promote healing or restore function. Often requires surgery and careful monitoring.
- Stimulation trials — Testing epidural or transcutaneous electrical stimulation to restore movement, standing, bladder control, or sexual function after injury.
- Acute treatment trials — Testing drugs or cooling therapies given immediately after injury to limit damage and preserve nerve function.
- Rehabilitation trials — Testing intensive physical therapy protocols, robotic training, or activity-based therapies to maximize recovery.
- Device trials — Testing brain-computer interfaces, exoskeletons, or implanted systems that restore arm or hand function.
Recently added Spinal Cord Injuries trials
Paired Stimulation Plasticity for Motor Recovery in Humans With and Without Spinal Cord Injury
This study will investigate how aging and spinal cord injury (SCI) affect the transmission and plasticity of the corticospinal and reticulospinal tracts, which are important pathways for motor control. The study includes two experiments. Experiment 1 will assess corticospinal and reticulospinal tract transmission to lower-limb muscles in older adults with and without SCI. Experiment 2 will examine how aging and spinal cord injury affect the body's ability to strengthen nerve pathways involved in movement. The investigators will compare two pathways that help control leg movement, the corticospinal and reticulospinal pathways, to determine whether aging affects these pathways differently and whether spinal cord injury has a greater effect on the corticospinal pathway.
Complete radiation treatments and follow-up scans for spine cancer
This study observes the effectiveness of high-precision radiation therapy using the Edge system after surgery for patients with spinal metastases. Spinal metastases can press on the spinal cord and cause pain, weakness, or paralysis. This treatment uses higher doses of radiation in fewer sessions (hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy) delivered precisely by the Edge machine to target remaining tumor cells while protecting the spinal cord. The study aims to see if this approach improves local tumor control, improves neurological function, shortens treatment duration, and improves quality of life in these patients. The study is observational, meaning patients receive standard care, and data is collected to evaluate the outcomes.
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