Medical summary
Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal vertebrae resulting in impaired or loss of function from below the area of the injury. The divisions of the spinal column include the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral. The effects of the injury result in the interruption of transmission of impulses which do not reach the brain, resulting in an inability of the brain to respond to commands.

The mechanism of injury may include blunt injury from forced flexion, forced extension or vertical compression. Injury may also occur from tumors and penetration injuries.

Complications can include pain, autonomic dysreflexia, skin breakdown, urinary tract infections, compromised kidney function, contractures, heterotopic ossification, pulmonary compromise, spasms and edema. For additional information, see the web site of the Foundation for Spinal Cord Injury Prevention, Care & Cure.

Types of spinal cord injuries
Complete Transverse Syndrome—loss of sensory and motor function below the level of the injury

Central Cord Syndrome—a lesion occurring almost exclusively in the cervical region that produces sacral sensory sparing and greater weakness in the upper limbs than in the lower limbs

Brown-Sequard's Syndrome—damage to one side of the cord only. There is loss of function below the level of injury to the part of the spinal cord that controls voluntary motor pathways on the same side and pain and temperature on the opposite side.

Cauda Equina—injury to the lumbosacral nerve roots within the neural canal resulting in a-reflexic bladder, bowel and lower limbs.

Sacral Sparing—sensation is intact in the sacral area, function and sensation are lost below the lesion

Anterior Cord Syndrome—a lesion produces variable loss of motor function and of sensitive to pin and temperature while preserving proprioception.

ASIA (American Spinal Cord Injury Association)

A = Complete, no sensory or motor function is preserved in the sacral segments S4–S5.

B = Incomplete, sensory but not motor function is preserved below the neurological level and extends through the sacral segments S4–S5.

C = Incomplete, motor function is preserved below the neurological level, and the majority of key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade less than 3.

D = Incomplete, motor function is preserved below the neurological level and the majority of key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade equal to, or greater than, 3.

E = Normal, sensory and motor function is normal.

Links to additional spinal cord injury resources
The links below have been carefully selected to provide the best information on spinal cord injuries, rehabilitation, research, etc.

Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission

ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association)

Craig Hospital (Caring exclusively for spinal cord/brain injuries)

Foundation for Spinal Cord Injury Prevention, Care & Cure

NSCIA (National Spinal Cord Injury Association)

Shepherd Center (A Catastrophic Care Hospital)

Spinal Cord Injury Information Network

Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center