Jason R. Schultz's Blog

FDA Approves Stem Cell Trial for Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

As an Atlanta, Peachtree City and Newnan car accident lawyer, I constantly see the devastating effects that these crashes can have and the life altering injuries caused by others negligence. Spinal cord injuries are some of the most serious injuries related to automobile collisions, and so far, a complete cure has been elusive. Hope has arrived for these patients.  The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the world's first stem cell clinical trial for treatment of spinal cord injuries.

That is news bound to cheer spinal cord injury patients as well as stem cell research proponents, who have long been calling for increased funding to realize their ambitions of a cure through embryonic stem cell therapy.  This summer, a California-based company will kick off a trial, injecting embryonic cells into eight to ten spinal cord injury patients.  Currently, the trial has modest aims, hoping to  ascertain the safety of stem cell therapy.  It is a small step forward, in a field that has often been the focus of bitter and controversial debate.  While nobody is expecting quick miracles from these new trials, medical researchers are excited about the possibilities for a cure over time.

Spinal cord injury is caused by a sudden and violent impact to your spine that results in damage to one or more of the vertebrae.  This damage could be in the form of crushed, fractured, or dislocated vertebrae, and the level of disability varies from patient to patient.  Most spinal cord injuries caused in the US are the result of automobile accidents, including car accidents and truck accidents, accounting for close to half of all spinal cord injuries each year.  Falls, such as those that may occur as part of a construction accident when a worker falls off scaffolding or a crane, account for 15 percent of all spinal cord injuries.  The rest are caused by disease, gunshot wounds, and sporting accidents.

An accident victim with serious injuries may be eligible for compensation, not just for immediate and ongoing medical treatment expenses, but also for the long term care that spinal curd injury patients require.  There may be physiotherapy expenses, as well as the costs of making lifestyle changes to help the victim cope with his injuries, such as modifications to his house and/or car to facilitate access.

If you have suffered serious injuries in a car or truck accident, an experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney can help recover the compensation to cover the short term as well as long term care expenses.  Contact your Peachtree City personal injury lawyer for a free evaluation of your case.

Labels: Atlanta autombile accidents car accidents construction accidents FDA Newnan Peachtree City serious injuries spinal cord injury stem cell research truck accidents