ABSTRACT
The pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) has generated significant research interest, and many attempts to limit injury, improve regeneration, or augment the function of surviving tissue have met success in animal models. This chapter discusses the predominant mechanisms of SCI and therapeutic approaches identified in preclinical studies as well as review the human randomized control trials in SCI to date. SCIs are characterized by high mortality and morbidity. The pathophysiology of SCI occurs in two phases: the primary and secondary injury. The primary injury refers to the mechanical perturbation of the spinal cord. The secondary injury refers to a complex array of biochemical events that further the cell damage and cell death caused by the primary insult. Additionally, systemic factors promoting these secondary mechanisms including hypotension and hypoxia are often referred to as systemic secondary injury mechanisms.
