BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article
Front. Syst. Neurosci.
Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2025.1622033
Effect of Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation in Individuals with Sensorimotor Complete Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study
Provisionally accepted
- 1Spinal Cord Unit, University Hospital Motol, Prague 5, Czechia
- 2Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague 5, Czechia
- 3Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czechia
- 4Department of Neurosurgery for Children and Adults, University Hospital Motol, Prague 5, Czechia
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Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in irreversible sensorimotor and autonomic dysfunction, severely limiting independence and quality of life. Individuals with clinically complete SCI (AIS A) have traditionally been considered beyond functional recovery. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential and broader impact of epidural spinal cord stimulation (eSCS) on this population. Three participants with chronic, sensorimotor complete thoracic SCI received implantation of a 32-contact epidural stimulator targeting the lumbosacral spinal cord. Personalized stimulation protocols were developed to support lower limb activation and upright posture. Motor, autonomic, and quality of life outcomes were assessed over a 12-month follow-up. All participants achieved independent standing through eSCS-enabled muscle activation, despite the absence of voluntary movement. The intervention led to improvements in postural control and trunk stability, as well as clinically meaningful gains in autonomic functions, including bladder, bowel, and sexual health, alongside reductions in spasticity and neuropathic pain. Importantly, participants reported sustained and substantial improvements in their perceived quality of life. This study provides evidence that eSCS can restore key functional capacities and significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals with sensorimotor complete SCI.
Keywords: Epidural spinal cord stimulation, spinal cord injury, Functional improvement, weight-bearing standing, autonomic dysfunction
Received: 02 May 2025; Accepted: 13 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Rybka, Sediva, Spackova, Kolar, Bradac and Kriz. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Jiri Kriz, Spinal Cord Unit, University Hospital Motol, Prague 5, Czechia
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