Influence of patients' age on functional recovery after transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells into injured spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the restoration of function after spinal cord injury (SCI) in patients of different ages who have underwent intraspinal transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs).

METHODS

One hundred and seventy-one SCI patients were included in this study. Of them, 139 were male and 32 were female, with age ranging from 2 to 64 years (mean, 34.9 years). In all SCI patients the lesions were injected at the time of operation with OECs. According to their ages, the patients were divided into 5 groups: </= 20 years group (n = 9), 21 - 30 years group (n = 54), 31 - 40 years group (n = 60), 41 - 50 years group (n = 34) and > 51 years group (n = 14). The spinal cord function was assessed based on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Classification System before and 2 - 8 weeks after OECs transplantation. One-way ANOVA and q test were used for statistical analysis, and the data were expressed as mean +/- SD.

RESULTS

After surgery, the motor scores increased by 5.2 +/- 4.8, 8.6 +/- 8.0, 8.3 +/- 8.8, 5.7 +/- 7.3 and 8.2 +/- 7.6 in 5 age groups respectively (F = 1.009, P = 0.404); light touch scores increased by 13.9 +/- 8.1, 15.5 +/- 14.3, 12.0 +/- 14.4, 14.1 +/- 18.5 and 24.8 +/- 25.3 respectively (F = 1.837, P = 0.124); and pin prick scores increased by 11.1 +/- 7.9, 17.2 +/- 14.3, 13.2 +/- 11.8, 13.6 +/- 13.9 and 25.4 +/- 24.3 respectively (F = 2.651, P = 0.035). Restoration of pin prick in > 51 years group was better than other age groups except 21 - 30 years group.

CONCLUSION

OECs transplantation can improve the neurological function of spinal cord of SCI patients regardless of their ages. Further research into the long-term outcomes of the treatment will be required.