Five Boxers

Abstract

An account is given of five former professional boxers, four of whom developed a chronic cerebral disorder in later life. Two (Cases 1 and 5) were both locally considered to be punch-drunk. However, the former had an absent septum pellucidum and the other was an alcoholic. Necropsy in the latter showed foci of softening in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex. Two (Cases 2 and 3) suffered from cerebral atrophy. Both had cavum septi pellucidi, and in one (Case 2) the leaves of the septum seemed to be perforated. One (Case 4) was not physically disabled, but his behaviour was violent, his cerebrospinal fluid protein was raised (60 mg./100 ml.), and air encephalography suggested that there was a perforation in his septum pellucidum. The possible relationship between, these lesions and boxing is discussed. There is a paucity of pathological observations of the so-called punch-drunk syndrome, but before the existence of the syndrome is denied, as in some quarters it has been, follow-up studies of former professional boxers will be necessary. © 1962, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.