Abstract
1. A comparison of the results of sixty patients with Pott's paraplegia, half operated upon and half treated conservatively, showed that better results were achieved in a much shorter time in those treated surgically.
2. Extra-pleural antero-lateral decompression is the operation of choice in cases of Pott's paraplegia.
3. The operation should be done as soon as the general condition of the patient allows, and should not be left until the disease is quiescent.
4. The greatest improvement is found in those patients who are still ambulant.
5. Although the gain in patients with complete paraplegia may be small, relief from painful flexor spasms and the healing of bed-sores often justify surgical treatment.
6. Fusion of the vertebral bodies can be carried out at the same sitting using healthy ribs and sometimes cancellous bone, with satisfactory results.
