Damages of spinal cord in newborns after intraventricular hemorrhage.

We studied the spinal cords of 14 dead premature newborn with intraventricular hemorrhages. In all cases, grade III intraventricular hemorrhage was followed by the translocation of blood into the subarachnoid space of the cervical, dorsal, and lumbar parts of the spinal cord. Ischemic changes were found in neurons of the cervical intumescence and other parts of the spinal cord. These changes are important during thanatogenesis. Three stages in the development of intraventricular hemorrhage were distinguished. Imperfections of clinical classification of this pathology were demonstrated.