Spinal cord injury affects about 18,000 people in the U.S. each year, causing loss of movement and sensation below the injury site. Treatment focuses on preventing further damage, managing complications like bladder and bowel problems, and maximizing recovery through rehabilitation. No treatment yet restores full function after complete spinal cord injury.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing stem cell therapies to replace damaged nerve cells, nerve bridge surgeries that reconnect severed spinal cord tissue, electrical stimulation devices that activate paralyzed muscles, and anti-inflammatory drugs given shortly after injury. Researchers are also studying combination approaches that pair rehabilitation with experimental treatments to enhance recovery.
Epidural stimulation devices
Implanted electrodes send electrical pulses to the spinal cord below the injury, allowing some people with paralysis to stand, step, and regain bladder control. FDA approved the first device in 2024 for people with chronic spinal cord injury.
Nerve bridge surgery
Surgeons are transplanting nerve tissue from other parts of the body to bridge gaps in severed spinal cords. Early results show some people regaining sensation and limited movement in previously paralyzed limbs.
Stem cell approaches
Several types of stem cells are being tested to see if they can replace lost nerve cells or create an environment where remaining nerves can regenerate. Results have been mixed, with some people showing modest improvements in sensation or movement.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on injury level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar), completeness of injury, time since injury (acute versus chronic), and current function level.
What types of trials are currently open
- Acute treatment trials — Testing drugs or procedures given within hours or days of injury to limit damage and preserve function. These require enrollment shortly after the injury occurs.
- Stem cell trials — Testing injections of different stem cell types into or near the injured spinal cord to promote repair or replace damaged cells.
- Stimulation device trials — Testing implanted or external devices that use electrical stimulation to activate paralyzed muscles or enable standing and walking.
- Rehabilitation trials — Testing new physical therapy approaches, robotic-assisted training, or combinations of rehab with experimental drugs or devices.
- Surgical trials — Testing nerve grafts, cell transplants, or other surgical techniques to repair or reconnect damaged spinal cord tissue.
Recently added Spinal Cord Injury trials
Receive an electrical stimulation implant to improve your movement
By doing this study, investigators hope to learn how electrical stimulation can improve human movement, biomechanics, and function and to gather information on the safety and effectiveness of an implanted electrical stimulation system after paralysis from spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury.
Try different doses of oxygen therapy to strengthen your legs
This study aims to evaluate how different doses of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) affect lower-limb strength, reaction time, and responsiveness in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The objective is to identify the dose that most effectively improves motor output while also examining parameters that may account for variability in response.
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