Spinal Cord Injury Overview
Welcome to Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer’s comprehensive guide to different types of spinal cord injuries, their causes and effects, and the legal options available for persons who have suffered such injuries due to accidents caused by third parties. We understand the challenges you face, and we are here to provide you with the information and support that you need to seek justice and financial compensation.
Spinal cord injuries can be extremely costly, because the spinal cord is a crucial component of the central nervous system which transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body. When the spinal cord is injured, consequences can be permanently life-altering and the medical expenses are very expensive. A spinal cord injury lawsuit is needed to cover such costs by gaining compensation for the victims of another other persons’ negligence.
NAVIGATE THIS PAGE
- 10 Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia)
- Complete Spinal Cord Injury
- Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
- ASIA Impairment Scale for SCI
- Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries
- Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injury Legal Recourse
- Seek Legal Representation Now
- Case Studies and Success Stories
- Contact Us
10 Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Understanding the top 10 most common types of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) is essential for families navigating recovery. Each type affects mobility, sensation, and independence differently depending on where and how the spinal cord is injured. This guide outlines key SCI types, from quadriplegia to central cord syndrome, and what they mean.
Whether your loved one is newly injured, in rehab, or preparing to transition home, knowing these classifications can help you better understand symptoms, therapy goals, and long-term outcomes. While no two injuries are exactly alike, these common SCI types provide a helpful starting point for informed care and planning.
1. Paraplegia
Paraplegia refers to paralysis that affects the lower half of the body, usually including both legs and often the lower abdomen. It typically results from damage to the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions of the spinal cord. While arm and upper body function remain intact, individuals may experience loss of mobility, sensation, and control over bowel or bladder function. Some paraplegic individuals retain partial leg movement, especially in incomplete injuries, and rehabilitation can greatly improve independence and quality of life.
2. Quadriplegia (Tetraplegia)
Quadriplegia , also known as tetraplegia, is paralysis that affects all four limbs—both arms and both legs—as well as the torso. It’s typically caused by damage to the cervical (neck) region of the spinal cord. Individuals with quadriplegia may also experience impaired respiratory function, limited or no hand and arm movement, and challenges with bowel, bladder, and sexual function. Severity varies widely, and some people retain partial movement or sensation depending on the level and completeness of the injury.
3. Complete Spinal Cord Injury
A complete spinal cord injury results in a total loss of both sensory and motor function below the level of the injury. This means the brain can no longer send or receive signals past the injured area of the spinal cord. Individuals with complete SCI have no voluntary movement or sensation in the affected regions.
The specific areas of paralysis depend on where the injury occurs:
- A complete cervical (neck) injury causes complete quadriplegia (tetraplegia) paralysis of the arms, hands, chest, trunk, legs, and pelvic organs.
- A complete thoracic or lumbar injury causes complete paraplegia—paralysis of the legs, lower abdomen, and pelvic organs, while arm and upper body function typically remains intact.
Because the spinal cord doesn’t regenerate, recovery is more limited compared to incomplete injuries. That said, many individuals benefit from rehabilitation focused on adaptive strategies, mobility aids, and maintaining upper body strength and independence where possible. Early intervention, respiratory care (especially for higher-level injuries), and ongoing therapy are critical to managing complications and improving quality of life.
4. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
An incomplete spinal cord injury occurs when the spinal cord is damaged but not fully severed, meaning some communication between the brain and body remains intact. In these cases, individuals retain partial sensory or motor function below the level of injury. Unlike complete SCIs, the degree of impairment varies widely—some people may have only mild weakness or numbness, while others experience significant functional loss.
In a healthy nervous system, the brain sends signals through the spinal cord and peripheral nerves to control movement and receive sensory input. When the spinal cord is partially damaged, these signals are disrupted, resulting in weakened motor control, reduced sensation, or both.
The exact pattern of loss depends on where the injury occurs:
- An incomplete cervical injury may cause partial quadriplegia, affecting arm and leg function to varying degrees.
- An incomplete thoracic, lumbar, or sacral injury may cause partial paraplegia, with impaired leg, bowel, bladder, or sexual function, but preserved upper body mobility.
Common types of incomplete SCIs include Central Cord Syndrome, Brown-Séquard Syndrome, and Anterior Cord Syndrome. With early rehab and ongoing therapy, many individuals with incomplete SCIs make meaningful functional gains and adapt well with assistive technology and supportive care.
5. Anterior Cord Syndrome
Anterior cord syndrome occurs when the front portion of the spinal cord is damaged, typically due to trauma, herniated discs, or disrupted blood supply (anterior spinal artery). This injury usually results in the loss of motor function and the inability to feel pain and temperature below the level of injury. However, sensations like touch, vibration, and proprioception (body position) often remain intact. Recovery is variable, but prognosis is generally poorer compared to other incomplete spinal cord injuries.
6. Central Cord Syndrome
Central cord syndrome is the most common type of incomplete spinal cord injury, often caused by trauma in individuals with cervical spinal stenosis, especially older adults. It leads to disproportionately greater weakness in the arms than the legs, due to the way nerve fibers are arranged in the spinal cord. Other symptoms can include sensory loss, difficulty with fine motor skills, and bladder dysfunction. While some individuals recover significantly, the extent of recovery depends on age, severity, and early intervention
7. Posterior Cord Syndrome
This rare condition involves damage to the back (posterior) portion of the spinal cord, affecting coordination, balance, and fine touch. Motor function may remain intact, but patients often experience difficulty walking and poor spatial awareness of limb position.
8. Brown-Séquard Syndrome
Caused by damage to one side of the spinal cord, often from penetrating trauma. It results in paralysis and loss of proprioception on the same side as the injury, with pain and temperature sensation loss on the opposite side.
9. Conus Medullaris Syndrome
Occurs from injury to the bottom tip of the spinal cord (conus medullaris), typically leading to sudden bilateral leg weakness, numbness, and dysfunction of bowel and bladder control. Symptoms can be mixed with both upper and lower motor neuron signs.
10. Cauda Equina Syndrome
This is a medical emergency caused by compression of the nerve roots at the spine’s base. Symptoms may include severe lower back pain, leg weakness, saddle anesthesia, and loss of bladder or bowel control. Immediate treatment is crucial to prevent permanent damage.
ASIA Impairment Scale for Spinal Cord Injuries
The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale to measure the extent of spinal cord injury (SCI) can be broken down into the four classifications. The ASIA Impairment Scale assigns the SCI a grade based on its severity. Grades range from A to E, with A being the most severe injury and E being the least severe.
• ASIA A = Complete Spinal Cord Injury: Complete sensory or motor function loss below the level of injury.
• ASIA B = Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Sensation is preserved below the level of injury, but motor function is lost.
• ASIA C = Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Motor function is preserved below the neurologic level, and most key muscles below the neurologic level have a muscle grade of less than 3
• ASIA D = Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Motor function is preserved below the neurologic level, and most key muscles below the neurologic level have a muscle grade that is greater than or equal to 3
• ASIA E = Normal: Sensory and motor functions are normal
Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can have serious and life-altering physical effects, which vary depending on the location (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral) and severity (complete vs. incomplete) of the injury. Damage to the spinal cord disrupts the brain’s ability to communicate with the body, leading to a wide range of complications. Common physical effects include
- Paralysis: Loss of voluntary muscle movement, either partial or complete. This may present as paraplegia (lower body) or quadriplegia (all four limbs and torso).
- Loss of Sensation: A reduction or complete loss of feeling below the injury level, affecting the ability to sense touch, pain, pressure, and temperature.
- Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction: Damage to the nerves that control these systems can lead to incontinence, urinary retention, constipation, or the need for catheterization and bowel programs.
- Respiratory Issues: Injuries at or above the C4 level can impair diaphragm function, often requiring ventilator support. Even lower-level injuries can affect coughing and increase the risk of pneumonia.
- Spasticity and Muscle Tone Changes: Many individuals experience involuntary muscle tightness, spasms, or flaccid muscles due to disrupted nerve signaling.
- Sexual Dysfunction: Sexual function, sensation, and fertility may also be impacted, depending on the injury level and completeness.
These effects can evolve over time and often require long-term medical management, specialized equipment, and ongoing rehabilitation tailored to the individual’s needs.
Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can have various causes, but accidents are a significant contributor. Understanding such causes is essential for determining legal liability in seeking compensation.
Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:
Collisions involving cars, motorcycles or trucks can lead to severe spinal cord injuries. Negligent driving, reckless behavior and failure to follow traffic rules can all contribute to accidents resulting in spinal cord injuries.
Slip and fall accidents can occur on poorly maintained property with hazards such as wet floors, uneven surfaces or insufficient lighting. Property owners and managers may be liable for injuries suffered on their premises if negligence can be proven.
High-impact sports and recreational activities can lead to spinal cord injuries when safety precautions are inadequate. Coaches, event organizers and equipment manufacturers may share responsibility for such injuries.
Inadequate safety measures and other workplace negligence can put employees at risk of accidents causing spinal cord injuries. Employers have a duty to provide a safe working environment and may be held liable for injuries resulting from their negligence.
Construction workers are especially susceptible to falls from heights, machinery accidents and other incidents that can lead to spinal cord injuries. Employers and contractors must ensure proper safety protocols are in place.
Spinal cord injuries also can result from medical procedures or surgeries gone wrong. Errors during spinal surgeries, misdiagnosis or improper post-operative care can lead to devastating consequences. Medical professionals and facilities can be held accountable for medical malpractice.
Defective products, such as faulty seat belts, vehicle roofs, airbags or safety equipment in vehicles, can contribute to spinal cord injuries during accidents. Manufacturers and designers can be held liable for these defects.
Top Spinal Cord Injury Treatments & Therapies
Starting the Rehab Journey:
Physical Therapy (PT):
This includes guided stretching, resistance training, balance exercises, and mobility work using tools like parallel bars or standing frames. Therapists may use gait training, mat exercises, or range-of-motion routines to maintain muscle tone and reduce stiffness.
Occupational Therapy (OT):
Focuses on helping your loved one relearn daily tasks—like dressing, bathing, or using a wheelchair. Therapists use adaptive equipment training, fine motor skill exercises, and hand function retraining, especially for those with upper limb involvement.
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) & Robotic Rehab:
FES uses small electrical pulses to activate paralyzed muscles and improve movement. Robotic exoskeletons or Lokomat gait trainers may be used to simulate walking and encourage nerve-muscle recovery.
Speech, Respiratory & Pain Management Therapies:
High-level spinal cord injuries may require respiratory therapy (breathing exercises, cough assist devices), pain management, speech therapy (for swallowing or voice control), and nerve blocks or neuromodulation to manage chronic pain.
Even after inpatient rehab, most SCI survivors continue outpatient therapy at home or local clinics. Staying consistent with prescribed home exercise programs and following up with specialists is essential for long-term progress. Recovery doesn’t stop at discharge—it’s a life-long journey.
Spinal Cord Injury Legal Recourse
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of a third party, defective product or other at fault party, you may have the right to seek compensation for your damages. Such compensation can include payments for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Understanding the type and cause of your spinal cord injury is essential in determining a legal recourse. Such legal actions can involve:
Personal Injury Claims
Filing a personal injury claim against an at-fault party allows you to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Personal injury claims are typically the primary legal recourse for spinal cord injuries resulting from accidents.
Product Liability Lawsuits
If a defective product contributed to your spinal cord injury, you may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer or designer of the faulty product. These lawsuits aim to hold manufacturers accountable for injuries caused by their defective products.
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
If your spinal cord injury resulted from medical malpractice, pursuing a medical malpractice lawsuit can help you seek compensation for your damages. These lawsuits target negligent healthcare providers and facilities.
Seek Top SCI Legal Representation Now
Seeking experienced legal representation is crucial to ensuring that your legal rights are protected and your spinal cord injury case is pursued vigorously.
As a Team of Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers, we specialize in representing individuals who have suffered spinal cord injuries due to accidents caused by third parties. Our experienced legal team understands the intricacies of these cases and is dedicated to fighting for your legal rights. After over 40 years of catastrophic injury practice, we understand what is needed to immediately start a negligence or product liability case from the ground up, prepare it for filing a SCI lawsuit, hire the needed experts, take deposition and settle it or be ready to try your case in court.
We have a proven track record of securing substantial financial compensation for our clients, thus providing them with the resources they need for their recovery and their future well-being.
Listen to What Some of Our Formers Clients Have to Say
Please take time to read over our past results studies to see how we have helped persons with paraplegia and quadriplegia to achieve justice and financial compensation. We are committed to fighting for our clients’ rights and ensuring that they receive the financial recovery they deserve.
Arthur R.
Marcus G.
Joseph S.
David W.
Ofelia P.
Contact a Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer – Free Case Review
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone’s negligence, contact us today for a free legal consultation. Spinal cord injuries from accidents often are life-changing, requiring extensive medical care and significant changes in a person’s daily existence. This can be extremely costly, but such costs should not be borne by the injured person. Rather, spinal cord injuries due to someone else’s negligence are the legal responsibility of the third party which caused the accident injury, or their insurance provider. Those payments must be won in the legal arena.
Our compassionate and knowledgeable legal team is here to guide you through the legal process. We can ensure that your legal rights are protected and can fight for the financial compensation or economic payments you deserve. Your journey to justice and recovery begins with an experienced Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer.
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