[Principles of treatment of spinal injuries.]

This paper is meant for those colleagues who are faced with spinal injuries only sporadically or not at all, to make them familiar with contemporary principles of treatment of these injuries. The treatment of spinal injuries has the objective to restore the anatomical set-up of the spine, stabilize it against surrounding forces which act on it and to preserve its function. Thus the same principles are involved as in the treatment of other fractures. Treatment involves reposition, releasing of nerve structures and stabilization which can be achieved by a conservative procedure or surgery. An indication for surgery are dislocations which cannot be treated conservatively and dislocated fractures, instable injuries, major anterior defects, unrest of the patient, onset or deterioration of the neurological affection after injury, nervous affection with stenosis of the spinal canal, and last not least, also economic reasons. Surgical stabilization must be so reliable as to make postoperative immobilization unncessary, the fusion must be as short as possible, it must make early mobilization possible and must not enhance the risk of secondary damage. The implant must make reposition possible and ensure the required stability and make thus early mobilization possible. Key words: spinal injury, objective of treatment, reduction and stabilization indication for surgery.