For over a decade, Verita Neuro has been committed to bringing the most advanced neurological treatments out of the research laboratory and directly to the patients who need them. While many people know us for our pioneering Epidural Stimulation treatment, which was launched in 2015, our team has also developed another specialized technique for spinal cord injury patients.
Known as LamiSpine, this treatment has been performed on more than 50 patients since 2017. The treatment is designed to promote the growth of fibres and neurons in the injured spinal cord through a targeted intra-spinal stem cell delivery method. The complete LamiSpine protocol is offered at Verita Neuro’s hospitals in Mexico and Dubai, and includes an additional two methods of stem cell delivery, alongside world-class neurorehabilitation.
The Story Behind LamiSpine: Verita Neuro’s Research Approach
Verita Neuro’s medical board is consistently conducting research to improve our range of neurological treatments. In the early 2000’s, stem cells were proving to be a promising treatment for spinal cord injury patients. Stem cells are unique cells in the body with the ability to self-renew, making them powerful for tissue repair and regeneration.
However, at the time, stem cells were only being delivered via two methods:
- Intravenous stem cell delivery involves injecting stem cells into the bloodstream, allowing them to circulate throughout the body and potentially reduce inflammation and support healing.
- Meanwhile, intrathecal stem cell delivery involves injecting stem cells into the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the spinal cord, allowing them to reach the central nervous system more directly.
After treating hundreds of spinal cord injury patients, the limitations of these delivery methods had become clear to the Verita Neuro team. Backed by third-party research, we hypothesized that delivering stem cells directly to injured spinal cord tissue could significantly enhance the therapeutic effects for those with severe and complete injuries.
And so, LamiSpine was researched and developed, to test this theory. The first procedure was performed on a T12 complete spinal cord injury patient in 2017 and the treatment has since been performed on dozens of patients since. Over time, as we have gathered clinical evidence and monitored patient outcomes, this approach has been refined into a structured protocol, including careful patient selection, with standardized surgical techniques and rehabilitation.
What Is LamiSpine? A Unique Intra-Spinal Stem Cell Delivery Method
“LamiSpine” refers specifically to the surgical intervention developed by Verita Neuro, used to deliver stem cells directly into the injured tissue of the spinal cord.
This is a specialized method where the patient first undergoes a laminectomy, where a small portion of the posterior component of the vertebra (called the “lamina”) is removed. During the LamiSpine surgery, a small needle is inserted into the lesion site so that the stem cells can be injected directly into the spinal cord. This targeted delivery allows the stem cells to reach the injured tissue immediately rather than travelling through the bloodstream or cerebrospinal fluid first.
This is a very delicate procedure requiring an experienced neurosurgery team to transplant stem cells into specific regions, called perivascular regions, around an injured spinal cord.
LamiSpine versus Epidural Stimulation: Which Verita Neuro Treatment is Best for Spinal Cord Injury Treatment?
It’s not a question of which is best, but which the patient is eligible for. Often, patients with spinal cord injuries at the lumbar level can qualify for a combination of both treatments. Epidural Stimulation is the process of implanting an electrical stimulator inside the spinal cord to support nerve communication after injury. This treatment promotes neuroplasticity, which includes the strengthening or reorganization of existing neural pathways and the formation of new synaptic connections.
Meanwhile, LamiSpine is designed to promote the growth of new fibres and neurons at the level of the injury. Together, the two treatments can make a powerful combination. There are no known negative interactions between the two treatments and Verita Neuro has successfully combined them for many patients over the past decade.
Who is Eligible for the LamiSpine Procedure?
Because LamiSpine is a highly specialized and delicate surgical procedure, patients must meet strict selection criteria before being considered. Historically, the largest group of patients treated with LamiSpine has been individuals with traumatic spinal cord injuries at the lumbar level, often with complete or near-complete loss of motor and sensory function. The intervention can also be considered for patients who are not eligible for other interventions, such as Epidural Stimulation.
However, eligibility ultimately depends on factors such as injury location, overall health status, and suitability for surgery, which are carefully evaluated by the Verita Neuro medical team during the assessment process.
Is The LamiSpine Surgery Invasive?
The procedure itself is very simple and is a type of minimally invasive surgery which does not require an extensive operation. During the surgery a small part of the vertebra is removed at the targeted site, a thin needle is inserted and stem cells are delivered at multiple locations along the injury.
The Complete LamiSpine Protocol
At Verita Neuro, when a patient qualifies for LamiSpine treatment, they receive a full evidence-based protocol to maximize the results of the treatment. The protocol is typically delivered over the course of a three-week stay at one of Verita Neuro’s hospitals, and includes intravenous and intrathecal stem cells, alongside intensive physical and occupational therapy. The protocol may also include the use of paired associative stimulation; this is a combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation and peripheral electrical stimulation.
Combining Three Stem Cell Delivery Methods
Intra-spinal, intrathecal and intravenous methods of stem cell delivery can each produce a different effect. By combining all three methods, the LamiSpine protocol has the potential to produce better recovery outcomes than by using any single method alone.
For example, intravenous injections can produce anti-inflammatory effects which may be neuroprotective. Meanwhile, intrathecal injections can provide stimulation to the resident neural stem cells as well as produce direct regeneration of spinal pathways. Stem cells, once injected into the cerebrospinal fluid, release neuroprotective proteins including Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) which may help protect and repair the injured nerve fibres.
Which Stem Cell Types are Being Used in LamiSpine Treatment?
Verita Neuro uses two ethically-sourced types of stem cells:
- Mesenchymal stem cells, derived from umbilical cord tissue. Shown to have neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Amniotic fluid stem cells, derived from amniotic fluid. These stem cells are shown to have differentiated into nerve cells, promote axonal growth, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of protective growth factors in the body which help repair the damage after spinal cord injury.
These properties can restore some of the lost spinal pathways after an injury and hence improve functions below the level of injury. Researchers are particularly interested in their potential to support nerve repair, reduce inflammation and create a more favorable environment for neural recovery.
Neurorehabilitation: An Essential Part of Spinal Cord Injury Treatment
It is commonly agreed in the scientific community that physical training, in its own right, has the power to promote neuroplasticity in the injured spinal cord. It has been shown to create new nerve pathways and promote the communication between the spinal cord and brain.
Neurorehabilitation also helps the nervous system relearn movement patterns and strengthen newly forming neural connections. For many patients recovering from spinal cord injury, consistent training plays an important role in translating neurological improvements into functional gains.
So, by combining physical and occupational therapy with advanced neuroregenerative medical treatments, spinal cord injury patients are better able to increase motor function, muscle strength, balance and coordination.
Potential Outcomes of LamiSpine Treatment
Most patients who have received the LamiSpine treatment at Verita Neuro have shown significant improvements in motor and sensory functions with multiple patients regaining the ability to start taking assisted steps. Patients reported improvements in bowel and bladder functions, sexual functions, neuropathic pain as well as autonomic functions. The extent of recovery after a LamiSpine procedure has been superior to those who were only treated with a standard form of stem cell involving only a combination of IV and intrathecal injections.
What Are The Possible Side Effects?
There is a small risk of developing fever after surgery which generally lasts for 24 hours. Neuropathic pain after the surgery may persist for a few days and some patients require morphine in combination with other pain medications. Risk of mild and superficial infection, but in very few cases a severe infection was reported requiring IV antibiotics. A mild to moderate risk of developing spasticity, particularly in patients with preexisting spasticity or spasms which may increase in intensity or frequency. Small risk of Cerebrospinal Fluid leakage after the surgery leading to persistent headaches. Side effects after IV and LP injections. IV injections may produce mild to moderate immune response in the form of skin rash, shivering or mild respiratory insufficiency. Lumbar injections may produce lower back pain, fever or headache.
References
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