Autologous Bulbar Olfactory Ensheathing Cells and Nerve Grafts for Treatment of Patients With Spinal Cord Transection

About this trial

This trial is recruiting individuals with complete spinal cord transection injuries (fully severed cord, e.g. from knife wound) to test the use of nerve cells collected from each participant (autologous) to rebuild their damaged cord. The cells are called olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and olfactory nerve fibroblasts (ONFs). The study will investigate the safety and ability of OECs and ONFs to build a nerve bridge across the injury site in order to regain some feeling and voluntary movement. On the basis of single case report, this method has been shown to enable some sensory and motor function recovery. If selected for the study, participants will be screened for natural recovery during an 8-month rehabilitation phase. If no signs of improvement appear, the participant will receive two surgeries (one for cell implantation on a scaffold, one for bridging the area of damage with peripheral nerve segments), followed by at least two years of rehabilitation.