Michael Schumacher ‘to have stem cell operation in days to regenerate his nervous system’ six years after ski crash
MICHAEL Schumacher is set to undergo a new stem cell operation to "regenerate his nervous system" as he continues to battle back from a catastrophic head injury, it has been reported.
French cardiologist Dr Philippe Menasche, who is known to have operated on the Formula One racing legend, 50, before, will perform a pioneering heart op on the German, Italian media reports.
French newspaper Le Dauphine reports the latest procedure could take place "in the next few days."
In 2013, Schumacher suffered a head injury when skiing off-piste in the resort of Meribel in the French Alps.
However, his condition has been shrouded in secrecy as he is treated privately by a team of doctors at his home in Geneva, Switzerland.
Yet, according to Dr Nicola Acciari, a top neurosurgeon, Schumacher is suffering from osteoporosis and muscle atrophy caused by his lack of movement since his accident.
He said: "The goal is to regenerate Michael's nervous system."
PIONEERING TREATMENT
Dr Menasche, who is known as a “pioneer in stem cell surgery”, is reportedly going to carry out another stem cell op on the racing driver's heart.
But, the exact details of the procedure are unknown and the Frenchman's techniques have been called "mysterious."
According to Spanish outlet 20minutos, Menasche is using surgery to transfer stem cells from the German's heart to his brain.
In stem cell therapy, cells are taken from either bone marrow or the patient's own heart and injected into other parts of the body in order to repair damaged tissue.
Schumacher, who won a record seven F1 world championships with Benetton and Ferrari, underwent his first stem-cell therapy in Paris in September last year.
French journalist Jean-Michel Décugis told The Times that the stem cell therapy will have an "anti-inflammatory effect" which will mostly likely impact the brain.
He said: "Our sources say that Michael Schumacher is receiving stem cell perfusions that... produce a systemic anti-inflammatory effect.
"That is to say they reach the whole body and you could imagine that they reach Michael Schumacher's brain.
"It's quite mysterious. Officially [Menasché] works only on the heart.
What is stem cell therapy?
Stem cell therapy - also known as regenerative medicine - promotes the repair of diseased, injured and dysfunctional tissues.
Stem cells are the body's raw materials - the cells from which all specialised cells, like brain or heart cells, are generated.
Under lab conditions stem cells can divide to create daughter cells.
These daughter cells can form new specialised cells with a specific function - brain, heart muscle, blood or bone cells.
The pioneering treatment is still relatively new and many studies are examining its potential.
In Michael Schumacher's case it's understood doctors are aiming to use the treatment to regenerate his nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord.
It could involve scientists taking stem cells from the Formula One legend's bone marrow, to create new brain and spinal cord cells with an aim of treating those that were injured in his accident
"He is carrying out experiments with [secretome] that is made by a laboratory from new stem cells and injected into veins, until now only on animals."
Mr Décugis also claims that Schumacher is being injected with secretome - protein found in the human body - which he says Menasche calls "stem cell juice."
In October, Menasche warned fans that he "does not work miracles" following the first widely-reported stem cell therapy on the sports star.
He also slammed claims he was carrying out "experiments" on the legendary racing driver.
Speaking with Italian newspaper La Republica, he said: "I do not perform miracles.
'HE IS CONSCIOUS'
"My team and I are not doing an experiment, an abominable term that is not in line with a serious medical view."
And after the procedure last year, a nurse told Le Parisien that Schumacher was "conscious".
She said: "Yes he is in my service ... And I can assure you that he is conscious."
Speaking about the cutting-edge procedure, Acciari said: "Over the past 20 years, science has made enormous progress with stem cell treatment.
"But that does not change that we still do not know much about the human brain.
"We are not able to say what the results will be."
In January, Italian brain surgeon Nicola Acciari - who has not reportedly treated the German - claims he will still be changed from the man his millions of fans remember.
"We must imagine a person very different from the one we remember on the track, with a very altered and deteriorated organic, muscular and skeletal structure," said Acciari.
"All as a result of the brain trauma he suffered," he told Italian newspaper Contro Copertina.
Last month, former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa said he is "very close" to Schumacher and said "his situation is not easy."
He told Fox Brazil: "I know how he (Schumacher) is, I have information. My relationship with him has always been very close.
"It is less close with his wife Corinna because she did not go to many races.
"But I think the main thing about all this is that we know that his situation is not easy.
"He is in a difficult phase but we need to respect him and the family."