Paraplegia
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Post-traumatic syringomyelia is now a well known entity and occurs months or years after a spinal cord injury. The presenting symptoms are usually pain, progressive motor weakness, sensory changes, and increased spasticity. ⋯ We present two patients with cervical spine fractures whose presenting symptom of post-traumatic syringomyelia was hyperhidrosis affected by posture. The pathophysiology involved and the management of these patients is discussed.
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Despite an increasing realisation that patients with acute spinal cord injuries require a multidisciplinary approach for their management, which can only be satisfactorily provided in spinal injuries units, these units are still not being used to their full potential in the United Kingdom. Not surprisingly, the initial admission of patients to other hospitals has inevitably led to delays in transfer to such units, with a high incidence of complications. ⋯ Furthermore, the longer the delay in transfer, the higher the incidence of pressure sores. Suggestions are made as to how complications can be avoided in future.