To address the associated challenges with nerve regeneration, many repair strategies are focused on biomaterials/scaffold design (novel materials, engineered scaffolds, and relevant topography), delivery of soluble factors to support axonal regrowth or block inhibitory cues, and/or cell therapy.
To restore function, the injured axons must regrow and reconnect with the proper distal targets. Injuries to the nervous system disrupt signal conduction between the brain and the target tissue. As with TBI, no SCI treatments directly support axonal regeneration, and both physical therapy and long-term outpatient care are integral components of a patient's daily life after injury. Acute treatments for CNS injuries via delivery of steroids to minimize secondary damage caused by inflammation are controversial owing to concerns of efficacy/risk to the patient ( 4). Similar to that for TBI, current SCI treatment is centered on stabilization of the affected region to prevent further damage ( 3, 4). SCI disproportionately impacts young adults and requires long hospitalizations (>1 month) with medical costs averaging $649,248 in the first year alone. SCI is less abundant than TBI with only 12,000–20,000 new cases reported annually, which translates to approximately 300,000 people currently living with SCI or dysfunction in the United States (see ). Acute treatment for TBI is centered on maintaining blood flow and stabilizing any fractures to minimize the damage, whereas long-term treatment centers on occupational and physical therapy.
It is estimated that TBI affects over 1.7 million people in the United States each year ( 1), resulting in annual losses of up to $76.5 billion from lost productivity and medical care costs ( 2, 3). Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide sustain traumatic injuries to the central nervous system ( CNS), including traumatic brain injury ( TBI) and spinal cord injury ( SCI) ( 1, 2). 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Injuries to the Central Nervous System
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