[Diagnostic significance of the H-reflex in traumatic lesions of the spinal cord].

The study of H-reflexes, their latent periods and M-responses involved 69 patients with trauma to the spinal cord. The results showed that these parameters were normal in 39 patients. The remaining patients lacked H- or M-responses, which was indicative of inhibition of neural and muscular activity due to disorders of hemodynamic and metabolic processes in the spinal cord or in muscles of the lower extremities. The study of latent periods and the speed of impulse conduction along the peripheral nerve revealed that after an injury to the spinal cord some patients presented impairment of impulse conduction at the level of the spinal cord or spinal radicles as a result of their compression.