Abstract
1. Thirty-four patients with severe lumbo-sacral subluxation have been studied. Twenty-nine of these came for advice between the ages of nine and nineteen, and of these, twenty-five developed symptoms and signs of a characteristic syndrome.
2. The details of the syndrome are described: the essential features are spinal stiffness, a lordotic gait, resistance to straight leg raising, and in some cases evidence of interference with cauda equina or nerve root.
3. The danger of attempted reduction by traction is stressed, as well as the difficulties to be encountered during posterior lumbo-sacral fusion.
4. The reasons for operating are given; the results of spinal fusion were satisfactory.
5. The traditional apprehension concerning the effect of severe subluxation on childbirth has probably been over-stressed.
6. The tendency to slip was almost completely arrested by spinal fusion.
