Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
10:49
Intraspinal Cell Transplantation for Targeting Cervical Ventral Horn in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: September 18, 2011
Omental transposition in chronic spinal cord injury
G L Clifton1, W H Donovan, M M Dimitrijevic
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, USA.
Spinal Cord
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Omental transposition surgery for chronic spinal cord injury showed subjective patient improvements in function and spasticity. However, objective testing and comparison to non-operated groups did not support these findings, suggesting no further trials for complete lesions.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Regenerative Medicine
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
Background:
- Omental transposition has been explored for chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) with limited detailed outcome reporting.
- Previous studies suggest potential for functional recovery beyond natural history.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of omental transposition in patients with chronic traumatic SCI (>1.5 years post-injury).
- To assess anatomical and functional changes using neurological, neurophysiological, and MRI assessments.
Main Methods:
- 15 patients with chronic SCI underwent omental transposition.
- Sequential neurological examinations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and neurophysiological tests were performed.
- Patients completed self-report forms; comparisons were made with non-operated controls.
Main Results:
- Seven patients showed spinal cord enlargement on MRI; eight had increased T2 signal intensity.
- Six patients reported subjective functional enhancement, primarily improved truncal control and decreased spasticity.
- Objective neurological and neurophysiological testing revealed no significant functional improvements compared to preoperative baseline or non-operated controls.
Conclusions:
- Omental grafts remain viable, inducing observable anatomical changes in the spinal cord via MRI.
- Subjective patient-reported improvements were not substantiated by objective clinical or neurophysiological data.
- The procedure is not recommended for further clinical trials in complete or sensory incomplete SCI lesions.
