Spiro-graphic and thoraco-metric studies in paraplegic patients

The respiratory function of two groups of paraplegics, with lesions above and below T10, has been studied. Excursions of the chest, excursions of the diaphragm and spirographic investigations have been carried on. The conclusions are that there is a marked deficiency in the respiratory dynamics of the ribs as well as in the kinetics of the diaphragm in paraplegics whose spinal injuries are situated above the 10th thoracic segment. The spirographic investigations therefore show that paraplegics with high lesions maintain a satisfactory respiratory efficiency in spite of the deficit of the abdominal muscles, though on the whole they use their residual respiratory volumes almost entirely.