Paraplegia
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Within a 12-year period, 44 (9.4%) of 466 patients had spinal cord injury complicating cervical spondylosis. A history of alcoholic use preceding the accident was obtained in 12 (54.5%) of 22 patients whose cord injury was due to a minor fall. The initial myelopathy was complete in 10 patients and incomplete in 34. ⋯ No patient developed acute neurological deterioration after injury but seven expired. The mortality rate was much higher in the patients whose initial cord lesion was complete (50% or 5/10) than in those with incomplete myelopathy (5.9% or 2/34). There was no delayed neurological deterioration due to progressive spondylosis of the spine but three patients developed post-traumatic syringomyelia several months to several years after the injury.