Misdiagnosis of spinal cord injuries--the physiatrist's point of view.

Thirteen different patients involving spinal cord pathology with delayed or false diagnosis are presented and these diagnostic pitfalls are discussed. Many seemingly simple explanations for para or quadriplegia are suddenly quite complex upon scrutiny. The problem of proper diagnosis is capital in instituting proper therapy, advising the patient and his family, and unfortunately in today's medical climate, for medical legal reasons.