Paraplegia in spondylitis: results of operative treatment

Thirty patients with spondylitis were treated by decompression of the cord (31 operations). The spondylitis was tuberculous in 28 of septic unspecific aetioloty in two cases. The results with respect to the neurological symptoms were complete recovery in 24 cases, imcomplete recovery in four cases, and failure in three cases, or in ten per cent. Transthoracic anterior decompression was found to be the safest and quickest way to obtain restitution. Out of the ten patients treated by this method, nine recovered completely. One post-operative death from pulmonary embolism occurred. One patient died because of adrenal insufficiency due to adrenal tuberculosis which could not be diagnosed during life. There were no other serious complications attributable to the operative interventions.