[Paraplegia caused by closed injury of the dorso-lumbar joint without apparent primary vertebral lesion].

Paraplegia due to closed trauma of the lumbo-dorsal junction, without bony lesions are exceptional. The author reports a case due to rupture of the posterior ligements, without vertebral displacement on the first films, but which became complicated secondarily by dislocation, which it was necessary to reduce by open operation. It thus seems that there occurred during this accident a marked vertebral displacement reponsible for paraplegia which became spontaneously reduced thanks to muscle contraction, but which recurred secondarily following muscular relaxation. This case illustrates the necessity for repeated X Rays in cases of marked lumbar trauma even if the initial films appear normal.