Brain computer interface for spinal cord injury could finally move us forward after thousands of years of clinical stagnation.

Since the early days of medicine, the classic teaching in neuroscience about spinal cord injuries (SCI) has been quite pessimistic. Even modern neuroscience isn’t much different. And for good reason, it seems.

A complete spinal cord injury is one that occurs with total loss of sensory and motor function below the level of the injury. It is considered particularly hopeless, because the chances of a full functional recovery are minimal to zero.

Patients with a complete spinal cord injury usually do not die directly from it. One reason is because spinal cord injuries are rarely isolated events. Brain injuries and trauma to other organs or vital vasculature is so common that clinicians should always suspect them in association with a spinal cord injury.

Making matters worse, those who survive the initial insult are at higher risk of succumbing to the sequelae. Respiratory failure, skin breakdown, blood clots, pneumonia, renal failure caused by pyelonephritis from a neurogenic bladder, and a host of other deadly problems are always lurking around the corner.

The nature of neurologic injuries is to evolve over time, especially in the hyperacute and acute phases. Like other traumatized organs, the acutely injured spinal cord is prone to swelling.

This causes worsening damage by the very structures meant to protect it, often requiring immediate intervention. But even when modern medicine is first on the scene, there is no guarantee of a good outcome.