Spinal-cord-injury-Case-Aqib

Case: Aqib from Pakistan

Nationality：

Pakistan

Age：

19 years old

Diagnosis：

Spinal cord injury

First Admission Date：

Aug 2018 （First Course of Treatment）

Background

In February 2018, the patient suffered a motorcycle accident. MRI showed C6, C7 spinal cord was completely damaged, disrupting the body's vital communication pathways between the brain and the rest of the body. The moments following the accident were a race against time. Thanks to the heroic and immediate efforts of the medical team, the patient received emergency treatment within 24 hours, narrowly clinging to life. Patient performed a tracheotomy 12 days after the injury. However, 12 days after the injury, the patient's condition was still precarious, necessitating a tracheotomy to assist with breathing.

As days turned into weeks, the patient's reality was one of extreme hardship. Before treatment, they were completely dependent on others for every aspect of daily life, with only the ability to eat and speak as a glimmer of normalcy in an otherwise shattered existence. Their world had shrunk to the confines of a hospital bed, filled with pain, uncertainty, and a growing sense of despair.

On August 14th, 2018, there was a glimmer of new hope as the patient was admitted to our stem cell treatment center in Beijing. Here, a dedicated team of medical professionals stands ready to embark on a journey to help the patient reclaim their life.

Pre-Treatment Condition (Before the First Course of Treatment)

1. No sensation below the injury level. Bowel and bladder functions are absent, and sweating function is lost.
2. Weak strength in the arms and waist. High muscle tone in the lower limbs.
3. Suffers from severe malnutrition with muscle atrophy.
4. Dry skin accompanied by severe desquamation.

Treatment Plan

Treatment Methods: Lumbar puncture+ interventional therapy
Two courses of stem cell therapy
Efficacy monitoring plan over 6 to 12 months post-treatment

Outcomes After the First Course ofTreatment

1. The day after the first surgery, the patient often experiences sweating on the head, and there is also slight sweating around the navel.
2. Arm strength has been significantly enhanced. The patient can move freely while sitting and can reach their mouth.
3. One finger on the left hand can make slight movements.
4. Appetite has improved, weight has increased, and nutritional status has been better.
5. The size of bedsores has decreased.
Desquamation has lessened.

Outcomes After the First Course ofTreatment (30 days)

1. The head can swing freely.
2. Arm strength is further enhanced. In a sitting position, the patient can easily move the arm and touch the mouth. There is also a slight recovery of sensation in the second thumb of the left hand.
3. Bedsores have improved. Appetite has increased, and the patient's weight has gone up by nearly 1 kg.

Symptom	Improvement
Loss of sensation, bowel/bladder/sweating dysfunction	Head and navel began sweating after treatment; partial recovery of autonomic functions
Arm and waist weakness	Arm strength significantly improved; can move freely in sitting position and reach mouth
High lower limb muscle tone	Condition stabilized with improved upper body mobility (lower limb tone not specified)
Muscle atrophy and malnutrition	Appetite improved; weight increased by nearly 1 kg; nutritional condition better
Dry skin and severe desquamation	Desquamation reduced; skin condition improved
Bedsores	Size of bedsores decreased significantly
Hand function (fine motor)	Slight movement in one finger of left hand; partial sensation in second thumb
Head and neck mobility	Head can swing freely after 30 days

Progress Summary & Future Outlook

After undergoing surgical treatment, the patient's physical functions have gradually improved.

Judging from the current positive progress, the future treatment prospects are relatively optimistic. In terms of motor function recovery, it is expected that through continuous treatment and rehabilitation training, the arm strength can be further enhanced, and the movement and sensory functions of more fingers of the left hand can be restored. It may even be possible to achieve more complex fine hand movements, thus greatly improving the patient's self-care ability and enabling the patient to independently complete more daily activities. At the same time, it is recommended that subsequent treatment can consider combining physical therapy, assisted training with rehabilitation equipment, and personalized nutrition plans to comprehensively promote the recovery of the patient's physical functions and help the patient return to a normal life as soon as possible.