SURGERY OF EXPERIMENTAL LESION OF SPINAL CORD EQUIVALENT TO CRUSH INJURY OF FRACTURE DISLOCATION OF SPINAL COLUMN

Abstract

<h3>PREFATORY REMARKS</h3> In two former papers I have dwelt at length on the mechanical considerations of injury to the spinal cord in cases of fracture dislocation of the spinal column.^{1, 2} In this communication, therefore, I shall limit myself to the discussion of the experimental work in which I have been engaged for the past year in the laboratories of the University of Pennsylvania. I would accentuate the fact that this is a preliminary report and that I am fully aware of the amount of control experimentation necessary before an<i>ex cathedra</i>statement can be made as to applicability of this work in the human subject. <h3>MEASUREMENT OF IMPACT ON SPINAL CORD IN SPINAL FRACTURE DISLOCATION</h3> In order to arrive at an adequate concept as to the amount of impact a spinal cord could receive and yet recover its function, I designed an instrument whereby a given weight could