Cell Transplant Helps Paralyzed Man Walk With FrameAayush MittalECO 555024.11.14https://www.yahoo.com/health/cell-transplant-helps-paralyzed-man-walk-with-frame-10058394707

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What is Paralysis?

Paralysis is loss of muscle function in an area of the body

This is due to a disconnect in the messages between the brain and the body

Paralysis is usually caused by strokes, spinal cord injuries, etc.

Can also be caused by:Nerve Diseases

Autoimmune diseases

Paralysis Trends in the U.S.

1/50 Americans are Paralyzed to some degree

The two major causes of Paralysis are:Strokes 1.6 million Americans

Spinal Cord Injuries 1.275 million Americans – 23%

# of People with Spinal Cord Injury related paralysis (1.275 million Americans) is 5 TIMES the amount estimated 2007

Accidents at work were the number one cause of spinal cord injuries, followed by motor vehicle accidents, and sporting or recreation accidents.

Paralysis in the Workplace

Info from Australian Government:

The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance…to help people with disability…perform their work as…productively as possible.

“As Possible” – Paralysis causes a lost in productivity which results in an increase in cost for employers

Employers may have to install wheelchair accessible work stations/ramps and automatic sliding doors – increase in cost for employers

What is this “Cure”?

“The technique…involved transplanting what are known as olfactory ensheathing cells into the patient’s spinal cord and constructing a ‘nerve bridge’ between two stumps of the damaged spinal column.”

Basically, this cure is implanting cells into the spinal column to serve as a bridge between the two damaged parts of the column

These cells for the implantation are known as OECs and ONFs (explained in next slide)

Researchers plan to do this treatment with 3-5 other individuals over the next 3-5 years

What are OECs and ONFs?

(OECs) – Olfactory Ensheathing Cells

(ONFs) – Olfactory Nerve Fibroblasts

Basically, these cells originally form nerve fibers that give us our sense of smell

Olfactory = related to smell

These nerve fibers, once implanted into the spinal cord, create the “cure” for paralysis

Current Treatment Options

Mobility aids – Do not treat anything, just make life easier

Wheelchairs

Scooters

Braces/Orthoses

Neuropathic pain treatment – Just treatment of pain, does not add to mobility

This pain does not respond to normal pain killers like Ibuprofen

Need other types of medicine like amitriptyline or pregabalin

Cure = Decrease in Demand for Current Treatment Options

D*

Quantity

D

Price

S*

Q*

P*

P

Q

Economic Impact

Current Spending on Paralysis is not That High $ spent on pain killer, mobility, etc.

Future Spending Would Drastically Increase A Procedure costs a lot more

Increase in Spending Would Lead to Increase in Productivity

People returning to work force

Would Lose Jobs in Current Industries – Pain killers, etc.

Jobs would shift markets – More jobs in Rehab Institutes, etc.

Why Not QALYs for Economic Analysis?

Not enough data.

Only 3-5 more patients predicted to be treated in the next 3-5 years. Only 1 patient treated so far.

Not enough information to measure Quality Adjusted Life Years

This “cure” is not yet proven. This “cure” is promising but we are still looking for a cost-effective and viable solution to this disease that affects 1/50 Americans.

Sources

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/health/21para.html?_r=0

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=7392356

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/paralysis.html

http://jobaccess.gov.au/content/spinal-cord-injury

https://www.yahoo.com/health/cell-transplant-helps-paralyzed-man-walk-with-frame-100583947072.html

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/paralysis/Pages/Treatment.aspx