Figure 5. Model for Scaffold Implantation in Clinically Relevant Contusive Spinal Cord Injury.
(A) Human spinal cord injuries result in oval cystic lesion cavities that interrupt projecting axons (red) and cause demyelination. Scaffold implantation into this type of lesion would involve (B) placement of a dorsal linear incision in the spinal cord to provide a window for scaffold implantation, and (C) insertion of the scaffold. Because the original lesion is oval shaped, scaffolds would either need to be fabricated in a manner to match the shape of the lesion, or placed in a manner to occupy less than the full volume of the lesion site (shown in this example). The interfaces would then be filled with a cell matrix.