What is complete versus incomplete spinal cord injury?

Complete spinal cord injuries involve total loss of motor and sensory function below injury level, while incomplete injuries preserve some function creating vastly different prognoses and damages. Complete injuries eliminate all voluntary movement, sensation, and reflexes below lesion level regardless of stimulation intensity. Incomplete injuries maintain some sensory or motor function below injury level with varying preservation patterns. ASIA Impairment Scale classifies completeness from A (complete) through E (normal function) standardizing assessments. Complete injuries typically show no improvement below level after spinal shock resolves in 24-72 hours. Incomplete injuries offer hope for recovery though extent remains unpredictable initially. Sacral sparing indicating incomplete injury preserves anal sensation suggesting better prognosis. Zone of partial preservation in complete injuries shows sporadic function without useful recovery. Functional differences prove dramatic with incomplete injuries potentially allowing some walking versus complete paralysis. Life care costs vary substantially based on independence levels and complication risks. Vocational options expand with incomplete injuries preserving some function. Psychological impacts differ with complete injuries requiring full adaptation versus incomplete offering recovery hope. Legal valuations must account for certainty of complete injuries versus unpredictability of incomplete outcomes. Understanding distinctions helps set appropriate compensation for vastly different disability levels.

Related posts:

  1. I lost both legs when a drunk crane operator dropped a load of steel beams on me at a construction site, with witnesses saying supervisors saw him drinking at lunch but let him return to work because they were behind schedule. Can I sue beyond workers’ comp?
  2. My infant daughter died from whooping cough contracted at daycare where investigation revealed multiple staff members worked while symptomatic with respiratory illness, violating health policies requiring exclusion, because management threatened termination for calling in sick. Can we sue?
  3. What legal standards apply to dental injuries in motorcycle crashes in personal injury cases?
  4. What is the duty of care for property owners?
  5. Can I sue a roommate for injuries caused by carelessness?
  6. What legal standards apply to wrongful death claim for unborn child in personal injury cases?
  7. Are there limits to damages for hotel responsibility in stairwell falls?
  8. Are there limits to damages for pedestrian hit in parking lot?
  9. Can victims claim compensation for spinal cord injury long-term cost?
  10. What legal standards apply to personal injury liens and bankruptcy in personal injury cases?
  11. Are punitive damages possible in statute of repose in product liability situations?
  12. What is post-concussion syndrome?
  13. I was injured in a car accident in Marietta caused by a city maintenance truck that changed lanes without signaling. The city claims sovereign immunity and says I must file special paperwork. What should I do?
  14. My wife died from toxic shock syndrome after a hysterectomy at a Marietta hospital where post-surgical infection was treated with inadequate antibiotics despite clear signs of sepsis, with nurses documenting concerning symptoms that doctors dismissed. What legal recourse exists?
  15. My wife died from blood loss after delivering our twins when the obstetrician lacerated her uterine artery during cesarean section and didn’t recognize the hemorrhage until she went into cardiac arrest, with nurses documenting concerning vital signs ignored for 45 minutes. What legal recourse exists?