[Electromyographic indices of lesion to the spinal cord following its trauma]

There was revealed a possibility of making a more precise diagnosis of the extent of the spinal cord trauma with the aid of electromyography, even at the early period of treatment. The following indices revealed on the attempt to move indicated the absence of anatomical section of the spinal cord: 1) with the level of the trauma at D5--D10 the absence of retardation in time of inclusion into the activity of the lower portions of the long muscles of the body in comparison with their upper portions; 2) with the level of the trauma at D10--L5--L1--the presence of the activity in the muscles of the hip and the shin recorded even in the form of individual potentials of low amplitude; 3) irrespective of the level of the trauma, the appearance of the activity in the symmetrical muscles of one foot on the attempt to move the other one. Even in the presence of one positive index the motor functions were restored in the majority of the patients by the restitution type.