Purpose: To study the pattern of neurological lesions and the frequency they occur in patients with cervical injuries. The relationship of these lesions with certain types of injuries and the cause of omjury.

Patients and methods: Between 1970–2001, 665 patients suffering a cervical injury were studied in our Department. There were 192 male and 73 female patients aged 42,3 years on average. Two hundred sixty-five of these cases (38,5%) were presented with neurological symptoms.The mean time of hospitalization was 43,45 days. The patients were classified according to the type and the level of injury. ASIA‘s functional classification was used (35,1% were ASIA A, 13,96% ASIA B, 10,57% ASIA C and 40,37% ASIA D). 194 were followed up for a mean period of 7 years. Conservative treatment was applied to 183 (69%) patients while 82 patients (31%) were treated operatively with anterior cervical fusion, posterior cervical fusion, or combined anterior and posterior fusion. Postoperatively, most of the patients with incomplete neurological lesion, were improved.

Conclusions: An analysis of our cases showed the following: a) There is a relationship between the type of neurological signs and the type of osseous or ligamentous injuries. b) There is relationship between type of osseous or ligamentous injury and severity of neurological lesion.. c) Burst fractures are the most severe fractures, followed by bilateral dislocations and tear-drop fractures. d) There is a relationship between mechanism of injury and severity of neurological lesion

Aim: To assess outcome in adolescent periarticular fractures treated with cannulated Herbert screws. Patients and methods: During the period November 99–March 02, twenty nine adolescent patients were admitted to our department with the diagnosis of a periarticular fracture. All patients were male, 12–17 years old (average 15 years). All fractures were treated with cannulated Herbert screws. Twelve of these were fractures of the elbow, 6 of the knee and 11 of the ankle. All the fractures were treated with internal fixation. All patients underwent preoperative CT scan with 2-D reconstruction.

In all the cases the anatomical reduction was achieved and cannulated Herbert screws were applied with respect to the epiphyseal plate through minimal surgical incision..

The follow up period varied from one to six months, while all patients followed a rehabilitation program.

Results: All fractures healed well, without any reduction of the joint mobility or other postoperative complications.

Conclusions: Internal fixation of adolescent periarticular fractures with cannulated Herbert screws, can be considered as a useful method of treatment, since the anatomical reduction obtained, can be held with a very small operative incision, while the epiphyseal plate is respected.