The usual fear of fatalities following injuries to the cervical spine is not warranted.

Cases of injury to the cervical spine with immediate cord damage and objective findings of a complete myelitis have a hopeless outlook for recovery.

Cases of injury to the cervical spine with no cord damage have an excellent outlook for recovery.

Cases of injury to the cervical spine with incomplete or delayed cord injury have a fair outlook and certainly will improve.

Conservative therapy offers the patient the best prospect for recovery with a maximum of motion.

Laminectomy has not been tried in this series of cases.

Operative spinal fusion has not been tried in this series of cases. Occasionally spinal fusion may be indicated in cervical-spine injuries.

Prolonged immobilization is the best form of treatment. This should be continued past the time when x-rays show an excellent callus formation.

Severe injuries and fractures of bone may be present without roentgenographic evidence of the lesion until the healing and callus have been developed.

Traumatic arthritis may develop after any severe spine lesion.

Reduction of unilateral dislocations between the first and second cervical vertebrae under anaesthesia is the method of choice.