Jody D. Peterman, LLC | Attorney at Law

A Fierce Litigator Securing Outstanding Results For Clients Since 1995

Complete versus incomplete spinal cord injuries

On Behalf of | Jan 17, 2025 | Spinal Cord Injuries |

People who are involved in a motor vehicle crash can have considerable injuries because of the violent impact. One of that’s possible is a spinal cord injury, which can be life-altering. In most cases, the symptoms of a spinal cord injury, such as an inability to move the limbs or back pain, will be evident right away.

All spinal cord injuries are categorized as either complete or incomplete. Doctors determine this through a series of tests, which may include X-rays, MRIs or CT scans. 

How do complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries differ?

A complete spinal cord injury means that all the nerves in the injured area are fully severed. This means that there’s no feeling or ability to move below the damaged portion of the spinal cord. Typically, these injuries don’t have a very good chance of a complete recovery because of the total damage to the nerves. 

An incomplete spinal cord injury means that there are still some nerves that are connected at the damaged area. A person with this type of injury may have the ability to move the limbs below the injury. They may also have feelings and sensations in the area. Because there are still some nerves connected at the site of the injury, a more comprehensive recovery might be possible. 

Patients who have a spinal cord injury will need long-term medical care, which can be a costly undertaking. When the injury is due to another person’s negligence, the patient may opt to pursue a claim for compensation. This comes with strict time limits, so working with someone who can assist with getting everything together is beneficial.

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