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Paralysis of the arm with radicular distribution occurring after posterior decompression of the cervical spinal cord included C5, C6, C7 and C8 roots, in isolation or combined. The most frequent patterns of paralysis were C5 and C6 root involvements of the motor-dominant type. The overall frequency of occurrence in our series was 11% (20 cases of postoperative paralysis in 188 surgical cases), but the frequency varied with the posterior decompression method. The higher frequency of postoperative paralysis was noted in the group in which the surgical procedures selected were considered as enabling the expanded dura to exert its traction power more easily on the extradural portion of the roots. Radiographical analyses showed that C5 roots which satisfied the following two conditions were more prone to sustain postoperative paralysis: first, location at the level of the highly expanded dural tube and, second, lying in the foramina with a higher degree of anterior protrusion of the superior process. In the majority of cases with C5 motor-dominant paralysis, the postoperative cord-root pouch distances of the C5 anterior roots were unchanged or even decreased compared with the preoperative ones, but the extradural portions of the C5 roots were elongated in all cases. These findings support the validity of mechanisms of postoperative paralysis which were deduced from the anatomical investigations.

SUMMARY Arthro-osteitis at the anterior chest wall was found in 12 (9*4 %) out of 128 consecutive patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris. This finding indicates that the concomitance of arthro-osteitis with PPP is not incidental but is based on some common aetiological factor. We propose a term 'pustulotic arthro-osteitis' for this condition.Intersterno-costoclavicular ossification is a newly described rheumatic condition which shows unique ossifications between the clavicle and the first rib.

We present 22 cases with inter-sterno-costoclavicular ossification. Clinical and pathological findings show that abnormal ossification observed in this situation is due to non-suppurative chronic inflammation of the soft tissues around the sterno-costo-clavicular region such as the costo-clavicular ligament. We have classified X-ray findings into three stages according to the extent of the ossification; localized, generalized, and hyperostotic, and show that the disease progressed in this sequence. A considerable number of the patients showed abnormal X-ray findings in the spine or the sacro-iliac joint. Frequent association of pustulosis palmaris et plantaris was noted in this disease. Most of the cases were treated effectively with anti-inflammatory drugs, but a few cases required surgical resection of the ossified mass with the clavicle or the first rib in order to relieve the severe pain.

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