A multidisciplinary team used epidural electrical stimulation, custom orthoses, and personalized rehabilitation to help a man with a severe spinal cord injury achieve significant milestones including walking outdoors on snow.
Key Findings
Results
Epidural electrical stimulation combined with custom orthoses and personalized rehabilitation enabled a man with severe spinal cord injury to regain walking ability.
The intervention involved a multidisciplinary team approach
The treatment combined epidural electrical stimulation with custom orthoses
Personalized rehabilitation was a key component of the treatment strategy
The patient-centered approach is described as enabling 'significant milestones'
Results
The patient achieved the milestone of walking outdoors on snow following the neurorehabilitation intervention.
Walking on snow was highlighted as a specific achieved milestone
The title 'Walking back to the snow' references this outdoor achievement
This outcome is described as highlighting 'the impact of tailored neurorehabilitation'
The case is presented as a Backstory describing the patient's recovery journey
Conclusions
A tailored, patient-centered neurorehabilitation approach was identified as critical to achieving functional outcomes in severe spinal cord injury.
The approach is described as 'patient-centered'
The team was characterized as 'multidisciplinary'
The authors frame the case as demonstrating the impact of individualized rather than standardized rehabilitation
The rehabilitation approach was described as 'personalized'
Emedoli D, Albano L, Agnesi F, Romeni S, Iannaccone S, Mortini P, et al.. (2026). Walking back to the snow.. Med (New York, N.Y.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2025.100991