Surgeons in Poland (in co-operation with English specialists) have succeeded in [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29645760regenerating the spinal cord[/url of a man to the extent that he can now walk with support from a frame and continues to improve. The procedure involved using nasal cells and nerve tissue to construct a "bridge" in the severed spjnal cord and it seems this has gradually repaired itself resuming nerve messages.

It must be the story of the century though sadly the BBC thinks Pistorius's sentence is more important. It is also saddening (but sadly expected) that the comments section has developed into a flame war populated largely by religious zealots who think God did it.

The story is remarkable for all sorts of reasons and one of the best is that nobody is looking to make any money whatsoever from the discovery of the technique but want it to simply be freely available to anyone who needs it.

Agree that if it proves repeatable that it is an amazing break through. Uplifting.

Couple this with recent advances in using wireless tech to bridge spinal breaks and the future for treating spinal injuries looks bright indeed.

If nasal cells can get him walking again, if he catches a cold will he start running?

What happens if his nose runs?



I'm here all week.

That snot the way it works

A very balanced view on the subject.

[urlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/spinal-cord-injuries-and-the-reality-of-medical-breakthroughs-9809310.html[/url

you obviously nose sumfing I don't

I heard about this on the Jeremy Vine show the other day. Fascinating stuff. It must feel terrible to have normal bodily functions one day and then lose them the next. Hopefully this treatment gets the funding that it deserves.

Do you think so?

It just shows how complex the brain is - if it doesn't send the right signals everything stops

Sal, the brain is still sending the right signals, damage to the spinal cord does not affect the brain. The problem is that the signals cannot pass the point of injury on the cord and therefore the body cannot function correctly.