MGM Healthcare Doctors Help Paralyzed Vellore Auto Driver Regain Hand Movement

Doctors at MGM Healthcare in Chennai have utilized spinal cord stimulation to help a 30-year-old auto driver from Vellore regain movement in his hands, a year after a severe road accident left him paralyzed.

The accident caused extensive damage to the patient's spine, leaving both of his legs paralyzed and causing severely restricted movement in his hands below the elbows. Medical evaluations revealed he had sustained an ASIA Grade B spinal cord injury, a severe condition where a patient retains sensory perception below the level of the trauma, but normal motor function is largely absent.

To address the impairment, the medical team carried out a spinal cord stimulation electrode implantation. The surgical procedure targeted the specific neural pathways controlling his upper limbs.

Dr Roopesh Kumar, director of neurosurgery at the hospital, explained that the procedure involves placing small electrodes near the spinal cord to deliver controlled electrical impulses. These impulses modulate spinal activity and support the recovery of movement and function. He added that the placement was specifically aimed at targeting the area associated with the patient's impaired hand and upper-limb function.

Following the surgery, the patient demonstrated a gradual recovery of hand muscle strength. Medical assessments recorded a one-grade improvement in his distal hand power over a period of six months.

Physicians anticipate that the patient's overall neurological recovery will take approximately another year and a half. Dr Ajinkya Rewatkar, consultant neurosurgeon, stated that the implanted electrodes will require regular programming as the patient's neurological function continues to progress, adding that ongoing physiotherapy and rehabilitation will remain an essential component of his recovery.