Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

How Common Are Spinal Cord Injuries in the U.S.?

Statistics show that around 11,000 individuals suffer from some type of spinal cord injury in the U.S. Of those injuries, it is estimated that around 45% are complete injuries, while the other 55% are incomplete. This can make a serious difference for an individual, especially in regards to type of medical care needed, costs of rehabilitation, physical mobility, and dependency on others.

Complete & Incomplete Injuries

So what exactly are the differences between complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries?

• An incomplete injury means that the spinal cord still has the ability to transmit messages from the brain to other parts of the body below the injury, although in a reduced capacity. Limited movement and sensation is still possible with an incomplete injury.
• A complete injury is one that totally and permanently destroys sensory and motor function below the injury site.

Depending on the site and severity of the injury, the injured person may be permanently paralyzed from the waist down, which is known as paraplegia, or suffer paralysis from the neck down, which is known as quadriplegia.

The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) has created a standardized neurological classification of all types of spinal cord injuries that includes evaluation of muscle grading and scale of impairment.

The impairment scale is split into five categories, covering three levels of impairment:

• Complete spinal cord injury (A)
• Incomplete spinal cord injury (B-D)
• Normal function (E)

Incomplete spinal cord injuries are then categorized based upon sensory and motor functions, with motor functions tested against the muscle grading scale. The tests associated with these scales help to then determine level of injury and type of treatment. The more serious an injury, the more medical care and support is likely required.

This also means a greater amount of financial compensation may be needed.

Incomplete spinal cord injuries may be so mild that the individual has almost no muscle weakness or signs that he or she has a spinal cord injury. In other cases, an incomplete injury can be so severe that it seems like the victim have a complete spinal cord injury. Most cases fall somewhere in between.

Helping Victims Recover Maximum Compensation

Auto accidents, construction accidents, sports accidents, and other incidents are among the top causes of spinal cord injuries. At Biren Law Group, we are skilled at recovering the maximum amount of compensation. We know which experts can properly diagnose and treat the injury, providing not only strong evidence, but also medical testimony. We also know which professionals to have evaluate the prognosis of the injury, as well as any future care that is anticipated.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Team

If you have more questions about complete versus incomplete spinal cord injuries, or if you would like to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the individual who caused your spine injury, contact our dedicated attorneys at the Biren Law Group today at (310) 896-4345. We are proud to offer free initial consultations to all our potential clients.