A stroke victim has had Stem cells injected in her brain to help regain the use of her arm, the first of such operation in England. The revolutionary treatment on the 66yr old was carried out by a team of 18medics.It works by delivering ”master” cells- which grow into any type- into the part of the brain thought to help generate new NERVE CELLS.
The procedure was carried out at Southampton General Hospital following an earlier trial in Glasgow that was deemed safe with promising results. It is now being tested on 41patients across the UK.
Consultant Neurosurgeon Diederick Butlers, who led the Hamphire team said: ”This is really exciting study. We are delighted to offer patients the opportunity to the trial of this potentially revolutionary treatment.”
About 110,000 people in England alone suffer strokes a year, most from BLOOD-FLOW BLOCKAGE in the brain. Half of survivors are permanently disabled, often with a paralysed face, arm and leg on one side, their only hope relying heavily on adeguate and intensive physiotherapy.
Mr Butlers said: ”we have made great strides in treating the onset of a stroke, but there is little that can currently be done to improve lives of survivors left disabled. This project could change all that”
Credit: Dr. B. Adu, Ekiti Forum; Image: Google