Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2012, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (23): 1812-1821.

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Current therapeutic strategies for inflammation following traumatic spinal cord injury

Priyanka L. Singh1, 2, Nitin Agarwal1, 2, James C. Barrese1, Robert F. Heary1, 2   

  1. 1 Department of Neurological Surgery, UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07101-1709, USA
    2 Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Newark, NJ 07101-1709, USA
  • Received:2012-04-15 Revised:2012-05-14 Online:2012-08-15 Published:2012-08-15
  • Contact: Robert F. Heary, M.D., Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07101-1709, USA; Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Newark, NJ 07101-1709, USA heary@umdnj.edu
  • About author:Priyanka L. Singh☆, M.S., Department of Neurological Surgery, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark NJ 07101-1709, USA; Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Newark, NJ 07101-1709, USA

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Abstract:

Damage from spinal cord injury occurs in two phases – the trauma of the initial mechanical insult and a secondary injury to nervous tissue spared by the primary insult. Apart from damage sustained as a result of direct trauma to the spinal cord, the post-traumatic inflammatory response contributes significantly to functional motor deficits exacerbated by the secondary injury. Attenuating the detrimental aspects of the inflammatory response is a promising strategy to potentially ameliorate the secondary injury, and promote significant functional recovery. This review details how the inflammatory component of secondary injury to the spinal cord can be treated currently and in the foreseeable future.

Key words: acute spinal cord injury, inflammation, treatment, secondary injury, neuroprotective, hypothermia, erythropoietin, estrogen, etanercept, rolipram