[Lesions of the cervical region of the spinal cord in so-called infantile cerebral palsy].

A EMG study of the brachial muscles in 41 children with spastic paralyses of the lower extremities, weakness of the hands concomitant with a mild hypotrophy of the muscles, disturbed functions of the III, VII and vestibular nerves and satisfactory mental development revealed the following: there were signs of motoneuron excitation in the cervical part of the spinal cord (motor units at rest in a maximum muscle contraction and in an elaboration of tenden reflexes), their destruction (a decreased amplitude of potentials of volitional contraction in combination with muscle hypotrophy) and a desinhibition of spinal mechanisms. Causes of such damage may be intrauterine pathology, perinatal hypoxia, delivery complicated by an incorrect position of the foetus and a mechanical trauma in an incomplete ossification of the spine, in premature infants.