Js. Torg et al., THE PATHOMECHANICS AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF CERVICAL SPINAL-CORD INJURY, Clinical orthopaedics and related research, (321), 1995, pp. 259-269
Cervical cord injuries caused during American football games have resu
lted in reversible, incompletely reversible, and irreversible neurolog
ic deficits. An explanation for this variable response to injury has b
een obtained from the study of the histochemical responses of a squid
axon injury model to mechanical deformation. Data obtained indicate th
at recovery or lack thereof is directly proportional to the intracellu
lar calcium concentration which in turn is directly proportional to th
e amount and rate of tension applied to the axon. It is concluded that
in most instances of acute spinal injury, disruption of cord function
is a result of the effects of local cord anoxia and the increased con
centration of intracellular calcium. It is proposed that Implementatio
n of therapeutic measures that restore blood flow and reduce cytosolic
calcium will increase neurologic recovery.