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3 1/2 years after two operations and radiation therapy of a biparietally, parasagittaly localised grade III oligoastrocytoma, a 34-year-old patient developed symptoms of the spinal cord. By performing magnetic resonance tomography and laminectomy, multiple metastases of the anaplastic part of the primary tumour could be identified. Spinal seedings of a tumour of this grading are even rarer than those sporadically reported on corresponding complications of a multiform glioblastoma. Risk factors for the development of such a complication are youth of the patient, primary site of the tumour near the midline and anaplastic parts of the tumour in adults. If such a constellation exists, one should definitely consider the possibility of a spinal seeding in a grade III glioma, especially because in these younger patients thus would be of greater relevance for therapy than in patients with multiform glioblastoma.

Based on Cooper's good results implantation of a bilateral cerebellar stimulator was performed in 2 children with cerebral palsy. The patients suffered from marked hypertonia of all limbs and involuntary movements. The follow-up study of 8 months revealed a decrease of spasticity and a progressive improvement of fine motor control. Our preliminary results justify the clinical application of cerebellar stimulation for functional treatment of sensory-motor disorders.

The most common factors predisposing to the compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow are fractures, arthrosis, abnormal strain of the elbow joint and recurrent dislocation or subluxation of the ulnar nerve from its groove of the humeral epicondyle (5, 7, 8). These disorders may result in a dysfunction termed “tardy ulnar palsy”. Fifty-one patients were treated for tardy ulnar palsy by anterior transposition at the Medical School of Hannover from 1971 to 1978. Thirty-one patients were followed from 4 months to 7 years. Particular attention was devoted to the age, sex, duration of symptoms, preoperative deficits, surgical findings, etiology, and EMG-findings. We classified our patients into a group of complete recovery, good improvement (= relief of pain, distinct improvement of motor and sensory function) and another group of no changes except relief of pain. There were no operative complications, no deteriorations.

In patients with benign intraspinal-extramedullary tumors the outcome is favorable, even when there is a severe neurological deficit pre-operatively. The question arises if old patients have the same good prognosis, although it often takes a long time to make a diagnosis. Other degenerative lesions may influence the typical clinical signs. Severe functional deficits are induced by the long-lasting compression of the spinal cord and recovery depends on the process of regeneration.

Spasticity, athetosis, and ataxia are the most frequent symptoms of persisting pyramidal and extrapyramidal lesions in cerebral palsy. The hypertonic movement disorders may be lessened by early physiotherapy or orthopedic interventions. In the majority of patients, motor ability worsens during puberty so that, in severe cases, no alternative but neurosurgical treatment exists.