Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) using meta-analysis, aiming to provide evidence-based guidance for clinical practice. METHODS: Electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase were searched. Studies comparing the therapeutic effects of autologous BMSC transplantation and rehabilitation therapy on patients with SCI were included. The pooled effect size of autologous BMSC transplantation on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores was calculated using the random- or fixed-effects model. RESULTS: A total of seven eligible studies involving 288 patients with SCI were included in this study. The meta-analysis results showed that autologous BMSC transplantation significantly improved ASIA sensory scores (mean difference (MD): 8.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.93, 11.67), ASIA motor scores (MD: 7.94; 95% CI: 2.05, 13.83), ASIA grade improvement (odds ratio (OR): 4.88; 95% CI: 2.48, 9.61) and somatosensory evoked potential improvement (OR: 3.34; 95% CI: 1.54, 7.25). This study did not find a statistically significant positive effect of autologous BMSC transplantation on bladder function and adverse events. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic efficacy of autologous BMSC transplantation is encouraging, but further multicentre, large-sample, prospective studies are still needed.