Russian Paraplegic Girl Walks After Closed-Loop Spinal Cord Neural Interface Surgery at Zhejiang University Second Affiliated Hospital

Background

A 12-year-old Russian girl named Vera from Moscow suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a car accident in June 2025. The thoracic-level injury resulted in lower-limb paraplegia, loss of motor function in her legs, and the disappearance of most bodily sensation below the injury site, confining her to a wheelchair.

After local treatment in Russia offered limited hope, her family, with coordination from the Russian Embassy in China, contacted the International Medical Service Department at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (SAHZU) in Hangzhou. Following remote multidisciplinary consultations that assessed travel feasibility and treatment risks, Vera was admitted to the hospital in April 2026. Comprehensive evaluations, including cortical, cervical and thoracic electrical stimulation combined with electromyography, confirmed an incomplete injury with residual neural pathways still present, though signals were significantly weakened. This met the criteria for the closed-loop spinal cord neural interface procedure.

What was achieved

Vera underwent the closed-loop spinal cord neural interface implantation surgery on April 11, 2026, performed by a team led by Professor Zhu Junming of the neurosurgery department. Following the procedure and approximately three months of intensive, multidisciplinary rehabilitation involving engineering parameter optimization, physical therapy and AI-assisted training, Vera achieved notable functional gains by September 1, 2026.

One month post-surgery, she could stand stably with assistive devices, showed active voluntary force in her lower limbs, experienced a downward shift in her sensory level with restored sensation in the soles of her feet, and demonstrated improved hip joint range of motion. By the three-month mark, she was able to take voluntary steps forward using a walker under her own intent, covering more than 10 meters. These were active movements rather than purely passive stimulation-driven actions. Vera was reported as the first international patient with severe spinal cord injury to achieve assisted walking following this procedure at the hospital. She was preparing to return to Russia with a customized home rehabilitation plan and scheduled online follow-ups. The hospital stated that it has performed the implantation on over 20 spinal cord injury patients, with most achieving varying degrees of functional recovery.

How it works

Spinal cord injury often interrupts neural pathways, preventing brain signals from effectively reaching the muscles in the lower body and leading to paralysis even when some nerve fibers remain. The closed-loop spinal cord neural interface technique, developed in China with full independent intellectual property rights, addresses this by implanting multi-contact stimulation electrodes on the dorsal surface of the spinal cord (epidural placement) below the injury level via a minimally invasive thoracolumbar incision. A pulse generator is also implanted subcutaneously.

During surgery, electrode contacts are mapped to target specific muscle groups in each leg. Post-implantation, the system functions as an amplifier for residual weak neural signals from the brain, delivering precisely timed electrical pulses to activate leg muscles and help bypass the damaged segment. The 'closed-loop' aspect involves real-time feedback: wireless sensors capture muscle activity (EMG), which is processed by algorithms, often with artificial intelligence support, to dynamically adjust stimulation parameters and patterns for different actions such as standing, weight shifting or stepping. This promotes voluntary, intent-driven movement rather than constant external pacing. Rehabilitation integrates progressive training in standing, balance and gait, with engineers optimizing programs based on the patient's observed performance. The approach was first successfully performed nationally at the hospital in March 2025 on a 61-year-old patient who achieved standing and walking within 15 days.

What it means for international patients

Vera's case is one of several involving international patients receiving the closed-loop spinal cord neural interface at SAHZU. Reports indicate a French patient also benefited previously, and inquiries have come from individuals in the United Kingdom, the United States and elsewhere. The hospital's International Medical Service Department coordinated her care, including remote consultations, translation support and a streamlined treatment process described as having no significant barriers for daily life or medical services during her four-month stay.

The hospital maintains dedicated services for international patients, including multilingual support and follow-up arrangements such as online platforms for post-discharge monitoring. Patients considering similar treatment must have preserved residual neural pathways, as confirmed by detailed electrophysiological assessment; not all spinal cord injuries meet the indications. Interested international patients should contact the hospital directly to determine individual eligibility, undergo evaluation and confirm current availability of the procedure.

About the hospital

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (SAHZU), also known as Zhejiang University Second Affiliated Hospital, is located in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Founded in 1869 as Guangji Hospital by the British Church Missionary Society, it is one of the earliest Western-style hospitals in China and a flagship public tertiary Grade A academic medical center affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine. It operates multiple campuses, including Jiefang Road, Binjiang, Chengdong and Boao, with a large bed capacity.

SAHZU is JCI-accredited and maintains an International Medicine Department that handles appointments, translation and support for patients from abroad, with contact options including phone (+86-571-89713988) and email. The hospital has established expertise in neurosurgery and has pioneered clinical application of the closed-loop spinal cord neural interface in collaboration with Zhejiang University's College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science. It has been recognized in national performance evaluations and specialty rankings, with neurosurgery among its noted strengths.