Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a major cause of death and disability in the developed world, particularly among aging populations who are more susceptible to injury from falls and other accidents. Historically, the management of SCI focused on supportive care and surgical decompression or stabilization. In recent decades, however, accumulated experience in both surgical and non-surgical approaches to acute injury management has led to significantly improved patient outcomes. Moreover, emerging technological innovations have provided new hope for individuals with chronic SCI, offering the potential to restore functional independence.

This Methods Collection highlights contemporary advances in SCI treatment across five key domains:

1. Surgical management of acute SCI
2. Non-surgical management of acute SCI
3. Biological therapies for chronic SCI
4. Brain–machine interface technologies for chronic SCI
5. Optimization of healthcare systems for SCI care