A Review of Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury: Large Animal Models and the Frontier in Humans

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature of spinal cord injury and stem cell therapy for large animal models and incorporate those results into an understanding of stem cell therapy for human cord injury.METHODS: Review of the literature.RESULTS: Eleven canine studies were identified and 3 sub-human primate studies were identified showing variable results.CONCLUSIONS: Stem cell therapy is a promising therapeutic option for patients with spinal cord injury; however, the technology has many un-answered questions and further research is needed.