Ground-breaking spinal cord stimulator procedure restores movement and sensation to paralysed patient

5th March 2025

An 18-year-old patient from Mayo, who was paralysed from the waist down following a road traffic accident in 2022, has regained movement and sensation in his legs after undergoing a pioneering spinal cord stimulator procedure. This first-of-its-kind procedure was performed by Prof Kirk Levins, Consultant Pain Specialist at St. Vincent’s University Hospital.

Yousaf Ghaffar, the patient, was initially given a prognosis that he would never walk again. Following the accident, he experienced severe spasticity and paralysis in his lower limbs, which significantly impacted his quality of life.

In September 2024, Prof Levins, in collaboration with a research team from the United States, performed the ground-breaking procedure. This technique, which is yet to be named, involved inserting rigid wire leads through an epidural needle to stimulate the spinal cord at a specific frequency and location. This approach, different from existing methods, not only restored movement but also revived sensation in the patient’s legs.

“While we were confident that the procedure would help with spasm management and improve the patient’s quality of life, we were never certain that motor and sensory function would be fully restored,” said Prof Levins. “This result far exceeded our expectations and has the potential to transform the lives of other people with similar spinal injuries.”

Yousaf immediately began showing movement in his legs—something that hadn’t happened in over two years. Weeks later, sensation returned, marking a breakthrough in his recovery. While he is not yet walking independently, he is making remarkable progress using an exoskeleton and continues to relearn how to walk.

A critical part of this journey has been post-surgical rehabilitation, which played a vital role in helping his brain relearn how to control movement after prolonged paralysis. Under the expert care of Dr Cara McDonagh and her team at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, along with physiotherapist Eleanor Phillips, Yousaf has been steadily reclaiming strength, mobility and independence—taking one step closer to a future he never thought possible.

This opens up new possibilities for patients with spinal injuries who were previously told they would never walk again. Prof Levins expressed hope that this complex and costly technique could be adapted for use in other patients.

“We see great potential in this technique for restoring movement and sensation, and it could offer new hope to patients with spinal injuries,” Prof Levins added. “However, the procedure is expensive, and wider adoption will require careful consideration.”

The team is researching the procedure’s potential and looks forward to its application to other cases in the future, including exploring its use in conditions beyond spinal injuries, such as endometriosis.

Yousaf was back in college after a few weeks and is eager to share his inspiring story. “I’m still amazed by how much I’ve recovered,” he said. “This procedure has given me a second chance at life, and I’m excited about the future.”

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