In this book on the optimal treatment of the injured spinal cord we present the reasons why we consider it necessary to handle trauma tized medullary tissue in accordance with the classical biological principles of wound healing in general, namely by long-term, ten sion-free immobilization of the spinal cord. Today, such immobili zation for this purpose can only be achieved by surgical secure ment of slight dorsiflexion of the cervical spine. Traumatically compressed medullary tissue is invariably attenu ated and weakened. On application of skull traction, the weakened section of the...