The first two patients to receive InVivo's Neuro-Spinal Scaffold for spinal cord injury are showing improvement three-to-six months after surgery.
The first spinal cord injury patient was treated in October 2014 at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix and the second was treated in January 2015 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Here are five things to know about the patients:
1. The first patient demonstrated continued motor function from the three-month to six-month assessment, based on the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury.
2. The first patient has regained partial knee function extensors and is classified as ASIA Impairment Scale C with a motor incomplete spinal cord injury.
3. The second patient is an AIS A with complete spinal cord injury, and there is appreciable improvement in the patient's trunk stability, self care, mobility and bowel and bladder function at the three-month mark.
4. Neither patient has reported adverse events associated with the Neuro-Spinal Scaffold.
5. The patients are posting videos of their progress on social media, which are inspiring others. The company re-opened the trial for three additional patients with spinal cord injury in March.
"The second patient's progress is encouraging since the injury and the patient's condition at present were more severe, delaying spinal stabilization, decompression and scaffold implantation," said InVivo CEO and Board Chairman Mark Perrin. "We look forward to following the patients' progress over the coming months and hope that they will demonstrate continued improvement."