Regeneration of the Human Spinal Cord via Coordination Dynamics Therapy

In the Introduction, the human neurophysiology is introduced for repairing spinal cord injuries. Based on the recordings with a new electrophysiologic method, the single-nerve fiber action potential recording method, and morphometry of nerve roots, a classification of human peripheral nerve fibers is developed and used for the identification of neurons from which was recorded to analyze spinal cord functions. Simultaneous impulse patterns of several single neurons, evoked by natural stimulations, running in and out of the spinal cord, are used to analyze spinal cord functions under rather physiologic and pathologic conditions. By combining the electrophysiology with the “System Theory of Patterns Formation”, the movement-based learning method “Coordination Dynamics Therapy” (CDT) is developed to repair the human spinal cord. In the first part of the Results, the achieved repairs in spinal cord injury (SCI) through CDT are given in a group of patients and the single cases of 50% and 95% cervical SCI. In 50% SCI, urinary bladder functions, walking and running were repaired. In 95% SCI, bladder functions and trunk control were repaired, but free walking was not achieved. In the second part, first time in history, the regeneration of the human spinal cord of the 10-year-old Nefeli was measured by the re-innervation of segment-indicating muscles below the injury level of Th10. It turned out that most of the approximate one-year lasting regeneration time was needed to cross the injury site. Then, the fastest nerve fibers regenerated with a speed of 1mm/day down to the muscles. In the third part, details of the case report to repair the spinal cord by movement-based learning are given. Emphasis is put on the repair of the urinary bladder function, because its repair is most important for patients with SCI. In the Discussion, the deficits of animal research and clinics are given. Possible reasons for the regeneration of the human spinal cord may be that the power of regeneration is higher below an age of 10 and efficient aggressive treatment has to be administered continuously for more than one year. A permanent coma patient started to speak through 6 years of CDT with 20 hours efficient therapy per week.