Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Have you or someone you know had a medical event that resulted in a spinal cord injury (SCI)? It can be a difficult road to navigate, and there are so many variables to understanding medical care.

An estimated 12,500 spinal cord injuries occur in the U.S. every year. A spinal cord injury can occur from traumatic events like a motor vehicle accident (47% of cases each year), falls, acts of violence, or sports-related injuries. Injuries can also occur non-traumatically from medical complications, degeneration, infections, or cancer.

Diagram of Spinal Cord Injury

What are the Main types of Spinal Cord Injury?

There are two main types of spinal cord injuries:

  1. Complete Spinal Cord Injury
  2. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Complete spinal cord injury occurs when damage to the spinal cord eliminates the ability for signals from the brain to connect with the spinal cord below the level of injury.

Most spinal cord Injuries, about 60%, are incomplete spinal cord injuries. These occur when compression or trauma is inflicted on the spinal cord, resulting in disruption of signals from the brain to below the injury site.

Classifications of Spinal Cord Injury

The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) has a classification system that is commonly utilized to determine the level and severity of spinal cord injury.

Grade

Type of Injury

Description

A

Complete

Sensory and motor absent, no sacral sparing 

B

Sensory Incomplete

Sensory is preserved below level of injury, including Sacral S4 and S5; motor absent below level of injury 

C

Motor Incomplete

Motor function is preserved below level of injury, more than half key muscles have muscle strength < 3/5 

D

Motor Incomplete

Motor function is preserved below level of injury, more than half key muscles have muscle strength > 3/5

E

Normal

Testing demonstrates normal sensation and motor response following a SCI

Tetraplegia, commonly known as quadriplegia, is a spinal cord injury that affects all 4 limbs as well as the trunk. This is common with cervical spinal cord injuries (in the neck) from the C1-C7 vertebrae.

Paraplegia is a spinal cord injury that affects lower limbs, commonly seen with thoracic level injuries and lower.

How Can Rehabilitation Help in Your Recovery?

Physical rehabilitation after a spinal cord injury (SCI) plays a critical role in maximizing a person’s recovery, independence, and quality of life by:

  • Restoring and maintaining physical function
  • Promoting neuroplasticity
  • Improving mobility and independence
  • Preventing secondary complications
  • Supporting mental health and coping
  • Personalizing goals and adaptive strategies

Sheltering Arms Institute offers comprehensive spinal cord injury rehabilitation at our inpatient rehab facility and outpatient centers across the Richmond area.

Our specialized team includes:

  • Occupational Therapists: Help with daily activities like dressing, bathing, kitchen safety, upper body function, and returning to work.
  • Physical Therapists: Focus on mobility, balance, strength, gait, and wheelchair training.
  • Speech-Language Pathologists: Assist with swallowing, speech, memory, and thinking skills, especially after head injuries related to SCI.

To schedule an evaluation with one of our spinal cord injury experts, contact us online or call (804) 764-1000.

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