'Some thoughts about neurological recovery in spinal cord injuries: a philosophical review'

In 1969 Michaelis published an inquiry on diagnosis and prognosis in traumatic spinal cord lesions based on an international level of experience. Fifteen years later our own answers from 1967 are revised. The result of the first assessment depends on the patient's condition and the physician's experience during the examination in the early stage. A correction of the first diagnosis in due course is not rare. There was no great alteration necessary for comparison in 1983 with the answers given in 1969. Firm diagnosis and prognosis are urgently needed by patients, relatives, employers and insurance bodies as early as possible. They are required also in order to compare the results of different methods of treatment. In addition, we treated a greater number of incomplete tetraplegics below C5/6, accompanied by a complete irreversible paralysis of the M. deltoideus. The pathology of this syndrome is still unknown.