Abstract
The pathological findings at necropsy in six cases of paraplegia treated with subarachnoid ethyl alcohol injection are described.
The most important sequel to the alcohol injections was a toxic radiculitis involving the cauda equina and resulting in more severe degeneration of the posterior than the anterior spinal nerve roots.
A toxic myelitis involving a small peripheral rim of the caudal part of the spinal cord and leptomeningeal fibrosis causing partial obliteration of the subarachnoid space were also found.
The presence of regenerating myelinated nerve fibres of peripheral nerve type in the subarachnoid space is described.
The time sequence of the histological changes of central chromatolysis is discussed.
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Hughes, J. Pathological findings following the intrathecal injection of ethyl alcohol in man. Spinal Cord 4, 167–175 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1966.22
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1966.22
