Cervical cord injuries embarrass the respiratory function of the patients.

One of the serious complication in the early stage of spinal cord injuries is disturbance of ventilatory function.

The present approach undertakes to investigate the respiratory function of 45 patients with chronic spinal cord injuries within 8 months after injuries by using the simple dry spirometer.

1) Cervical cord injuries, the expiratory vital capacities decreased to 46.36% of normal control group, in thoracic 82.50%, and in lumbar 80.14%.

2) Among the cervical cord injuries, the decrement of vital capacity is getting larger in order of complete paralysis in upper level, complete in lower, incomplete in upper, and incomplete in lower.

3) Among the thoracic injuries, the decrement of vital capacity getting larger in complete paralysis in upper level, complete in lower, incomplete in upper, and incomplete in lower.

4) The vital capacities decrease very slightly with increasing age, but, no significance can be given.

5) No significance is noted in relation to the durations of injuries.