Experimental Strategies to Bridge Large Tissue Gaps in the Injured Spinal Cord after Acute and Chronic LesionNicole Brazda *1, Veronica Estrada *1, Christian Voss 2,3, Klaus Seide 3, Hoc Khiem Trieu 2, Hans Werner Müller 1
1Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-University Medical Center, 2Institute of Microsystems Technology, Hamburg University of Technology, 3Biomechanical Laboratory, BG Trauma Center Hamburg
Severe spinal cord injuries often result in tissue defects. Two possibilities are described to successfully bridge such gaps to promote tissue adaptation, regenerative responses and functional improvement in rats via implantation of a mechanical microconnector system after acute injury and five weeks after complete spinal cord transection.