Purpose: To confirm the therapeutic effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone(TRH) on the experimental spinal cord injury. Method: Wistar rats were subjected to incomplete spinal cord injury using the modified Allen method. The effects were observed by means of neurologic scoring, quantitative enzyme histocytoehemistry、quantitative immunohistocytochemistry and electron microscopy. Results: 1) The treated group exhibited significantly higher scores than the control group. 2) Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity of anterior horn cells in the treated group was higher than that of the control group invarious time, and its activity restored to normal level two weeks after injury; Acid phosphatase(AePase) activity was lower than that of the control group in various time. and its activity restored to normal level four weeks after injury. The content of Nissl's bodies in anterior horn cells in the treated group was higher than that of the control goup one week after injury. 3)The number of axon in a certain area of spinal white matter in the treated group was more than that of the control group. 4)Ultrastructural observation showed that both the nerve tissue injury and the extent of hemorrhage were milder in the treated group than that of the control group. Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of TRH on the spinal cord injury" are shown not only in the improving recovery of motor function, but also in the morphology.

Objective To study the clinical characters and the prognosis of the sciatic nerve injury associated with acetabular fracture. Methods From January 1980 to January 2000, fourteen sciatic nerve injury resulted from acetabular fracture were observed. Three were treated with skeletal traction, eleven were treated with open reduction and internal fixation and neurolysis. Results All cases were followed-up for an average of 18 months. The anatomical reduction of acetabular fracture obtained in 57.1％ of the patients and satisfactory reduction in 42.9％ . The excellent and good nerve functional recovery was seen in 57.1％ according to MCRR. Conclusion Injury of the sciatic nerve associated with the acetabular fracture occurs most commonly when the hip is dislocated posteriorly. Injury of the common peroneal nerve, branching off from the sciatic nerve was more common and had poorer prognosis than that of the tibial nerve. Flexion of the knee and extension of the hip during the surgical reduction of acetabular fracture can reduce iatrogenic injury of the sciatic nerve. Early reduction of acetabular fracture and neurolysis is important for the recovery of function of the sciatic never.