Lithium, Cord Blood Cells and the Combination in the Treatment of Acute & Sub-acute Spinal Cord Injury

Inclusion criteria

• either gender and 18-65 years old;
• acute or subacute traumatic spinal cord injury (defined as SCI resulting from an exteneral non-penetrating cause that occurred within 4 weeks);
• neurological status of ASIA A;
• neurological level between C5-T11;
• MRI shows injury site is within 3 vertebral level and necrotic focus, if exist, is less than 1/3 of the spinal cord diameter;
• professional judgment determinate that subjects need a spinal decompression surgery;
• subjects able to complete neurological examination;
• subjects have voluntarily signed and dated an informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• penetration SCI such as gun-shoot, knife-cutting or SCI caused by non-traumatic conditions;
• spinal cord lesion exceeds three segments or necrotic focus with diameter larger than 1/3 of the spinal cord;
• severe complications;
• significant medical diseases or infection;
• pregnant or lactating woman, or female of childbearing potential and who is unwilling to use an effective contraceptive method while enrolled in the study;
• unavailability of suitable umbilical cord blood cells;
• contraindication of lithium carbonate and/or spinal decompression surgery
• subject is currently participating in another study or has been taking any investigational drug within the last 4 weeks prior to screening;
• investigator suggests that the subject would not be suitable to participate this study