The Latest Treatment Options for Spinal Column and Cord Injuries
Aruna Ganju, MD, discusses the importance of spinal stabilization in patients with a spinal cord injury. She shares the latest advances in the treatment of those with spinal column and cord injury, and the trial investigating the role of intrathecal administration in those with subacute, incomplete spinal cord injury. She tells us about her collaboration with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and how the Northwestern Medicine Spine Health Center improves outcomes and the way patients receive care.
Featured Speaker:
Learn more about Aruna Ganju, MD
Aruna Ganju, MD
As a faculty member in the Department of Neurological Surgery and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Aruna Ganju, MD, is an expert in the treatment of spinal column and cord disease, including the acute and subacute complications of spinal column and cord injury such as tethered cord, post-traumatic syringomyelia and spinal deformity.Learn more about Aruna Ganju, MD
Transcription:
The Latest Treatment Options for Spinal Column and Cord Injuries
Melanie Cole (Host): Welcome to Better Edge a Northwestern Medicine Podcast for Physicians. I'm Melanie Cole and today we're discussing the importance of spinal stabilization in spinal cord injured patients. Joining me is Dr. Aruna Ganju. She's an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Surgery at Northwestern Medicine. Dr. Ganju, it's a pleasure to have you join us today. So, tell us about some of the latest advances in the treatment of those with spinal cord and spinal column injury.
Aruna Ganju, MD (Guest): Thank you, Melanie. It's super exciting. There's a lot going on. Not only clinically, but also in the way of research trials attempting to restore function in those who have suffered a spinal column and cord injury. So, at Northwestern medicine, we're currently involved in three industry sponsored trials. And each of these is looking at advancing the treatment of those who have suffered a spinal cord injury; whether it's in the acute setting, the subacute setting or the chronic setting. These investigational products, are delivered in a number of different ways. For instance, intravenously or else intrathecally. But all of them have some ability to affect neuro-regeneration, neuroprotection or else neuro restoration.
So this is exciting, because annually, approximately 17,000 people in the United States are affected by a spinal cord injury and although there is a role for surgery and specifically surgical stabilization, it doesn't eliminate the fact that unfortunately, these people many times have suffered an injury to their spinal cord and there is nothing that we can do to reverse that injury. So, this is very exciting.
Host: Well, it certainly is. So, expand a little for us, Dr. Ganju, tell us about the trial investigating the role of intrathecal administration in those with the subacute incomplete spinal cord injury. Tell us about that.
Dr. Ganju: So, this is an industry sponsored trial, and it's actually part two, if you will. It's a multi-disciplinary study being carried out in the United States. We were fortunate enough to be involved in part one of the study, which looked at what would be the optimal and safe dose for administration of this product. This product basically is an antibody to three molecules that impede neuro and neural growth which is commonly what is seen following a spinal cord injury. And so as I say, we are currently a participant in part two of this study, which essentially is a double blind study looking at a single maximal dose of the investigational product. And this is once again for people who are, what we consider subacute/chronic. So, this means between one and 10 years following a spinal cord injury. And the protocol calls for the successfully screened subject, the protocol calls for intrathecal administration of investigational product and this occurs every three weeks, for a number of doses. And so we have just gotten started on this trial within the past month, and we're very excited about it. As I say, we are only one of a handful of centers in the United States that is participating. We were fortunate enough to participate in part one and now very excited to be part of the second part of the study.
Host: I hope you'll join us again to update us as that progresses. Now, tell us about your collaboration with the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. Give us some of the background on this work and what your goals are.
Dr. Ganju: Oh, well, this is pretty exciting, you know, we have the good fortune, if you will, to be next door neighbors to the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, which consistently is the top rehab hospital in this country. So, for the patients that we take care of over here at Northwestern Medicine, let's say those who have suffered a spinal column or a cord injury, for those patients who are candidates, following our surgical procedure, they are able to reap the benefit of being an inpatient at the rehab center, where essentially they work on strengthening, mobilization and basically resuming their lives.
So, that is very exciting for us. And if you can imagine, the patients need follow up right, after our surgical procedure. And so because of our proximity to the rehab center, we have the ability to very closely follow our post-surgical patients. So, this means, for instance, doing inpatient rounds over there, checking on wounds, checking on braces, checking on radiographic studies that are done. And this is a win-win-win for the patients, for the rehab doctors and also for the surgeons. Because if you can imagine, our collaboration and our evaluation of patients over there obviates their having to come over to Northwestern Medicine for follow-up appointments. And I think in a similar vein, the rehab center is also taking care of people who have come from all over the country, people who have been operated on at other medical centers. So, once again, these other patients are also in need of post-surgical care. And once again, collaborating with the rehab center, we are able to provide care for these patients as well as post-surgical issues may arise.
Host: Isn't that so interesting. And thank you for sharing that, Dr. Ganju. So, now tell us a little bit about the Northwestern Medicine Spine Health Center. How will it improve outcomes? The way patients receive their care? And what's exciting for Northwestern Medicine Spine Surgery.
Dr. Ganju: Well, as you may know, the Northwestern Medicine Spine Center is scheduled to open in June of 2021. And this is essentially going to be a multi-disciplinary center, a collaboration and a housing of all services and providers that are related to patients that have spinal disorders. So, specifically we're going to have orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, physiatrists. We will have the ability to provide and obtain radiographic studies, interventional pain medicine modalities, for instance, injections. In addition, we will have physical and occupational therapists all housed on the 13th floor of the Lavin Pavilion.
And essentially we're going to be pushing the envelope on taking care of those who have conditions that affect both the spinal column and cord. So, I think not only will it provide effective and efficient care of these patients, but in addition, the outcomes are going to be superior because you will have all the practitioners there under one roof on one floor, communicating and collaborating, to improve the quality of life for these patients. And I think, especially as the US population is aging, degeneration of the spinal column is something that happens to all of us, as we get older. So, increasingly we're going to be seeing this condition more and more in the US population. And I think quantity of life without quality of life, is not acceptable. So, once again, the spine center will allow for this multi-disciplinary pushing of the envelope in an attempt to improve quality of life for all of us.
Host: What an exciting time to be in your field. And what would you like other providers to take away from this message and from the segment today about what you're doing there at Northwestern Medicine, the Spine Health Center, the future of spine surgery? What would you like them to know?
Dr. Ganju: Well, I think the Spine Center is it's going to provide cutting edge care for all of our patients. There will be no need for anyone to go anywhere else. They will be able to undergo everything, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic measures, as well as interventions that will restore quality of life.
Host: Thank you so much, Dr. Ganju for joining us today. To refer your patient or for more information, you can visit our website at nm.org/neuro to get connected with one of our providers. That concludes this episode of Better Edge, a Northwestern Medicine Podcast for Physicians. Please remember to download, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and all the other Northwestern Medicine podcasts. I'm Melanie Cole.
The Latest Treatment Options for Spinal Column and Cord Injuries
Melanie Cole (Host): Welcome to Better Edge a Northwestern Medicine Podcast for Physicians. I'm Melanie Cole and today we're discussing the importance of spinal stabilization in spinal cord injured patients. Joining me is Dr. Aruna Ganju. She's an Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Surgery at Northwestern Medicine. Dr. Ganju, it's a pleasure to have you join us today. So, tell us about some of the latest advances in the treatment of those with spinal cord and spinal column injury.
Aruna Ganju, MD (Guest): Thank you, Melanie. It's super exciting. There's a lot going on. Not only clinically, but also in the way of research trials attempting to restore function in those who have suffered a spinal column and cord injury. So, at Northwestern medicine, we're currently involved in three industry sponsored trials. And each of these is looking at advancing the treatment of those who have suffered a spinal cord injury; whether it's in the acute setting, the subacute setting or the chronic setting. These investigational products, are delivered in a number of different ways. For instance, intravenously or else intrathecally. But all of them have some ability to affect neuro-regeneration, neuroprotection or else neuro restoration.
So this is exciting, because annually, approximately 17,000 people in the United States are affected by a spinal cord injury and although there is a role for surgery and specifically surgical stabilization, it doesn't eliminate the fact that unfortunately, these people many times have suffered an injury to their spinal cord and there is nothing that we can do to reverse that injury. So, this is very exciting.
Host: Well, it certainly is. So, expand a little for us, Dr. Ganju, tell us about the trial investigating the role of intrathecal administration in those with the subacute incomplete spinal cord injury. Tell us about that.
Dr. Ganju: So, this is an industry sponsored trial, and it's actually part two, if you will. It's a multi-disciplinary study being carried out in the United States. We were fortunate enough to be involved in part one of the study, which looked at what would be the optimal and safe dose for administration of this product. This product basically is an antibody to three molecules that impede neuro and neural growth which is commonly what is seen following a spinal cord injury. And so as I say, we are currently a participant in part two of this study, which essentially is a double blind study looking at a single maximal dose of the investigational product. And this is once again for people who are, what we consider subacute/chronic. So, this means between one and 10 years following a spinal cord injury. And the protocol calls for the successfully screened subject, the protocol calls for intrathecal administration of investigational product and this occurs every three weeks, for a number of doses. And so we have just gotten started on this trial within the past month, and we're very excited about it. As I say, we are only one of a handful of centers in the United States that is participating. We were fortunate enough to participate in part one and now very excited to be part of the second part of the study.
Host: I hope you'll join us again to update us as that progresses. Now, tell us about your collaboration with the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. Give us some of the background on this work and what your goals are.
Dr. Ganju: Oh, well, this is pretty exciting, you know, we have the good fortune, if you will, to be next door neighbors to the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, which consistently is the top rehab hospital in this country. So, for the patients that we take care of over here at Northwestern Medicine, let's say those who have suffered a spinal column or a cord injury, for those patients who are candidates, following our surgical procedure, they are able to reap the benefit of being an inpatient at the rehab center, where essentially they work on strengthening, mobilization and basically resuming their lives.
So, that is very exciting for us. And if you can imagine, the patients need follow up right, after our surgical procedure. And so because of our proximity to the rehab center, we have the ability to very closely follow our post-surgical patients. So, this means, for instance, doing inpatient rounds over there, checking on wounds, checking on braces, checking on radiographic studies that are done. And this is a win-win-win for the patients, for the rehab doctors and also for the surgeons. Because if you can imagine, our collaboration and our evaluation of patients over there obviates their having to come over to Northwestern Medicine for follow-up appointments. And I think in a similar vein, the rehab center is also taking care of people who have come from all over the country, people who have been operated on at other medical centers. So, once again, these other patients are also in need of post-surgical care. And once again, collaborating with the rehab center, we are able to provide care for these patients as well as post-surgical issues may arise.
Host: Isn't that so interesting. And thank you for sharing that, Dr. Ganju. So, now tell us a little bit about the Northwestern Medicine Spine Health Center. How will it improve outcomes? The way patients receive their care? And what's exciting for Northwestern Medicine Spine Surgery.
Dr. Ganju: Well, as you may know, the Northwestern Medicine Spine Center is scheduled to open in June of 2021. And this is essentially going to be a multi-disciplinary center, a collaboration and a housing of all services and providers that are related to patients that have spinal disorders. So, specifically we're going to have orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, physiatrists. We will have the ability to provide and obtain radiographic studies, interventional pain medicine modalities, for instance, injections. In addition, we will have physical and occupational therapists all housed on the 13th floor of the Lavin Pavilion.
And essentially we're going to be pushing the envelope on taking care of those who have conditions that affect both the spinal column and cord. So, I think not only will it provide effective and efficient care of these patients, but in addition, the outcomes are going to be superior because you will have all the practitioners there under one roof on one floor, communicating and collaborating, to improve the quality of life for these patients. And I think, especially as the US population is aging, degeneration of the spinal column is something that happens to all of us, as we get older. So, increasingly we're going to be seeing this condition more and more in the US population. And I think quantity of life without quality of life, is not acceptable. So, once again, the spine center will allow for this multi-disciplinary pushing of the envelope in an attempt to improve quality of life for all of us.
Host: What an exciting time to be in your field. And what would you like other providers to take away from this message and from the segment today about what you're doing there at Northwestern Medicine, the Spine Health Center, the future of spine surgery? What would you like them to know?
Dr. Ganju: Well, I think the Spine Center is it's going to provide cutting edge care for all of our patients. There will be no need for anyone to go anywhere else. They will be able to undergo everything, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic measures, as well as interventions that will restore quality of life.
Host: Thank you so much, Dr. Ganju for joining us today. To refer your patient or for more information, you can visit our website at nm.org/neuro to get connected with one of our providers. That concludes this episode of Better Edge, a Northwestern Medicine Podcast for Physicians. Please remember to download, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and all the other Northwestern Medicine podcasts. I'm Melanie Cole.