SummaryAcute transverse myelitis (ATM) is a disorder of the spinal region of the central nervous system. In the present case, the clinical course showed ATM associated with mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and little recovery; the girl was left with a flaccid paraplegia, and thus differed from other cases in the literature which all reported complete or near complete recovery.

The multidisciplinary team approach to the prolonged treatment of head injured patients in widely discussed. The rehabilitation process of the 147 subjects of this paper started while they were comatose and continued throughout the various stages of their progress towards full integration into society; the assessment of this process was carried out by testing their reintegration into work according to their capacities. Brain damage is classified in four categories: Physical-locomotor, communicative, cognitive and behavioural. The gap between the team's expectations and the patients' factual functioning within the community was found to be proportional to the extent of damage caused by the original injury. Treatment procedures and the influence of various factors on the factual functional state are discussed at length.

Symptomatic postprandial decrease in blood pressure has been described in patients with various autonomic disorders, but not in patients with spinal injuries, Presented herein is a 31 year old female patient with traumatic complete paraplegia under the T3 level, in whom postprandial hypotension (PPH) was observed. The PPH was preceded by an increase in insulin level and was followed by an acceleration of heart rate. Oral caffeine prevented the hypotension and alleviated the symptoms. It is suggested that the PPH might be manifested as a result of damage to an upper thoracic spinal baroreflex. Clinical investigation of PPH is recommended for patients with high paraplegia.