Wound healing in trophic ulcers in spina bifida patients.

Eight cases of tethered conus medullaris with trophic ulcers in the foot in spina bifida patients are presented. The ulcers, which had remained unhealed for 1 to 8 years prior to surgery, healed in a few weeks after the tethered conus was released. The possibility of some neurotrophic factor in wound healing is suggested.