Spinal Cord Stimulation for Standing and Walking After Complete, Chronic, Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

In a partially manufacturer-supported trial, four patients with chronic motor paralysis after traumatic spinal cord injury underwent epidural stimulation and intense rehabilitation in standing and stepping. Treatment with stimulation began at least 2 years after their injury. All four patients had complete paralysis from trauma in the cervical or thoracic regions. Intensive physical therapy alone, 10 hours per week for up to 9 weeks, did not result in motor movement, confirmed by electromyography.

A 16-electrode array was implanted epidurally over L1 to S1-2 and was set to activate lower extremity muscles. Several weeks after implantation, different muscles groups were activated by stimulating each epidural anode and cathode to determine com…