Subacute traumatic spinal cord injury: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of therapeutic strategies based on bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells in animal models.

Background Aims: To explore the optimal transplantation strategy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in subacute traumatic spinal cord injury in animal experiments in order to provide reference for future animal studies and clinical research.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases were systematically searched (inception to January 4, 2022). Literature search, data extraction and bias assessment were performed by two independent reviewers.

Results: A total of 50 articles were included for analysis. Results of both traditional meta-analysis and network meta-analysis showed that high-dose (≥1 × 10) transplantation was significantly better than low-dose (<1 × 10) transplantation and intralesional transplantation was significantly better than intravenous transplantation.

Conclusions: Given the limited quality of evidence from current animal studies, more high-quality head-to-head comparisons are needed in the future to delve into the optimal transplantation strategy for stem cells.