ACUTE SPINAL SYNDROMES IN CHILDREN AND AD OLESCENTS

23 children with acute spinal syndromes are presented. The clinical si gns were caused by trauma in 11 patients, by extramedullar tumors in 6 , by operations (coarctation of the aorta, scoliosis) in 4 and by ence phalomyelitis in 2. Motor signs (flaccid paraplegia or paraparesis, mo noplegia, bilateral weakness) and changes of reflex intensities were a lways observed. Most children presented with disturbances of sensory f unctions and micturition, some exhibited ataxia. In addition to the ne urological signs, plain films of the spine were of diagnostic importan ce after trauma, for tumors myelography and/or computerized tomography were most useful. The unfavourable prognosis of posttraumatic paraple gia may be improved by early application of corticosteroids in very hi gh doses. The value of GM1-ganglioside is controversial. In cases of e xternal compression by tumors a decompression of the spinal cord is ur gent. ''Spinal cord monitoring'' can be used intraoperatively in surge ry of scoliosis and coarctation of the aorta to detect neurological co mplications early. Differential diagnosis and therapies of encephalomy elitis and Guillain-Barre-Syndrome are discussed.