In 2010, Darek Fidyka was, quite literally, stabbed in the back repeatedly. The attack severed his spinal nerves and left him unable to move his legs. But an experimental surgery has meant that for the first time, Fidyka can walk again.
We’ve previously discussed this surgery, in an experiment to restore limb motion to dogs, but this is the first time it’s been attempted on humans. The surgery uses nasal cells, the only ones that regenerate in adult mammals, to reconnect the spinal nerves.
It’s not a perfect treatment, it should be noted. The nerve connections are imperfect, and Fidyka can really only move his hips and his left leg, although sensation has also returned. He needs to use a walker to get around, and he still has years of physical therapy and other treatments ahead of him. But he can now drive, get around, and live his life… and honestly, that’s a vast improvement.
Will we see this treatment become commonplace? That’s an open question. Fidyka is being monitored carefully for any adverse reactions or unexpected issues, and it’s too early to tell if this will be a routine treatment. But now we know it works in humans, and that’s the first step to it becoming a part of rehabilitation from spinal nerve injury.