Christopher Reeve
a proponent of advanced research into tissue repair
and the experience of living with wounds

The untimely death of the actor Christopher Reeve (Superman) at the age of 52 years due to cardiac complications associated with an infected pressure ulcer highlights the serious health problems that pressure ulcers can cause. Pressure ulcers are not only a complication of spinal cord injury, as in Christopher Reeve’s case, but also affect others that are restricted in their movements and confined to beds and wheel chairs due to a number of chronic illnesses particularly in the elderly population.

Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana at a Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation gala on 24 Nov 2004. This foundation is committed to funding research that develops treatments and cures for paralysis caused by spinal injury and other nervous system disorders.

In the UK it has been stated that 60,000 people per year suffer from pressure ulcers. The New England Journal of Medicine reported in-patient mortality from 22–33% associated with pressure ulcers.1
Christopher Reeve became a major proponent for medical research into tissue repair, particularly stem cell therapy for the repair of nerve injury, but also in television interviews stressed the struggle that he had with the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.

His response to his unfortunate injury like other celebrities such as Michael Fox has made the public as well as governments aware of many of the aspects of tissue repair which our Society and other organisations have as their research objectives. We should be grateful for the publicity that these individuals have given to our aims.

Reference
1. Davies K et al. The hidden mortality from pressure ulcers. Journal of Tissue Viability 1991, Vol. 1, No. 1, page 18.

Dr George Cherry