VERY few steps have been taken in the country for the treatment of spinal cord injuries. The injury that makes a person paraplegic (unable to use both legs) or quadriplegic (unable to use all four limbs) takes a heavy toll on one’s physical and mental health. Just imagine how one would feel being dependant on others for activities of daily living. It is a terrible thought. We should consider collaborative research for the treatment of such patients.

In this regard, the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences, Lahore, and the University of Missouri recently signed an agreement to cooperate in the neuro-endovascular field, starting a stroke intervention programme that will bring advancement in the field of neurosurgery in the country. While it is an appreciative step, a lot more needs to be done on a much broader scale to have a meaningful impact on ground reality.

Research conducted in Birmingham in 2022 demonstrated that AZD-1236 can promote significant nerve regenera-tion with a dramatic 80 per cent preser- vation of nerve function following spinal cord compression injury. Another research in Kings College, London, showed promising future for the management of spinal cord injuries with KCL-286 which promoted recovery and was well-tolerated by participants in a phase I clinical trial with no severe side effects. There is much research going on in the developed world. It is high time Pakistan took steps in this critical direction.

Dr Iqra Arooj
Chakwal

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2024