Spinal cord injuries are classified by both location and severity. Understanding the type of injury you've suffered is crucial for determining prognosis, calculating damages, and building your legal case. The location and completeness of your injury directly affect lifetime care costs and compensation value.

Spinal Cord Anatomy and Injury Location

The spinal cord is divided into four regions, each controlling different body functions:

Cervical Spine (C1-C8)

The cervical spine encompasses the seven vertebrae in the neck, plus the C8 nerve root. Cervical injuries are the most severe because they affect the largest portion of the body.

  • C1-C4 injuries—often require ventilator support, may cause complete quadriplegia with no arm or hand function
  • C5 injuries—typically preserve shoulder and bicep function but affect hands and lower body
  • C6 injuries—allow some wrist control but limited hand function
  • C7-C8 injuries—may preserve more arm and hand function with paralysis below

Cervical injuries account for approximately 60% of all spinal cord injuries and have the highest lifetime care costs—often exceeding $4-5 million over a lifetime.

Thoracic Spine (T1-T12)

The thoracic spine comprises the 12 vertebrae in the mid-back, attached to the ribcage. Thoracic injuries typically cause paraplegia—paralysis of the legs and lower body while preserving arm function.

  • T1-T6 injuries—affect trunk stability and some organs, full arm function preserved
  • T7-T12 injuries—may preserve some trunk control, allowing greater independence

Individuals with thoracic injuries often achieve significant independence with appropriate equipment and training.

Lumbar Spine (L1-L5)

The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae in the lower back. Lumbar injuries affect the legs, hips, and bladder/bowel function but preserve upper body strength.

Many people with lumbar injuries can walk with braces or assistive devices, though bladder and bowel dysfunction often persists regardless of walking ability.

Sacral Spine (S1-S5)

The sacral spine includes five fused vertebrae at the base of the spine. Sacral injuries primarily affect bladder, bowel, and sexual function, with varying impacts on leg strength.

Sacral injuries typically allow the greatest mobility but still impose significant quality-of-life impacts.

Complete vs. Incomplete Injuries

Beyond location, injuries are classified as complete or incomplete:

Complete Spinal Cord Injury

A complete spinal cord injury involves total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury level. No movement or sensation exists below the level of injury.

Complete injuries rarely improve significantly, though advances in treatment occasionally help patients regain limited function.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

An incomplete spinal cord injury preserves some motor or sensory function below the injury level. The degree of preserved function varies widely.

Incomplete injuries have better prognosis, with many patients improving over months to years of rehabilitation. However, the extent of recovery cannot be predicted early after injury.

ASIA Classification System

The ASIA Impairment Scale (American Spinal Injury Association) provides standardized injury classification:

  • ASIA A (Complete)—no motor or sensory function in sacral segments
  • ASIA B (Sensory Incomplete)—sensory but no motor function below injury level
  • ASIA C (Motor Incomplete)—motor function present, but most muscles below injury are weak
  • ASIA D (Motor Incomplete)—motor function present, most muscles at functional strength
  • ASIA E (Normal)—normal motor and sensory function

ASIA classification is critical evidence in spinal cord injury lawsuits because it objectively measures injury severity and guides damage calculations.

Specific Injury Syndromes

Incomplete injuries often present as recognized syndromes:

Central Cord Syndrome

Central cord syndrome typically affects older individuals and causes greater weakness in arms than legs. Many central cord syndrome patients can walk but have limited hand function.

Brown-Séquard Syndrome

Brown-Séquard syndrome results from injury to one side of the spinal cord, causing paralysis on one side and sensory loss on the opposite side.

Anterior Cord Syndrome

Anterior cord syndrome affects the front portion of the spinal cord, causing motor paralysis and loss of pain/temperature sensation while preserving touch and position sense.

Cauda Equina Syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome involves injury to nerve roots below the spinal cord's termination point. It requires emergency surgery to prevent permanent damage to bladder, bowel, and leg function.

Impact on Legal Claims

Injury type directly affects your case value:

Severity and Damages

Higher-level complete injuries justify the largest damage awards due to greater medical needs, more extensive paralysis, and larger impacts on employment and independence.

Life Expectancy Considerations

Life expectancy varies by injury level and completeness. Reduced life expectancy affects damage calculations but may be offset by higher annual care costs.

Prognosis and Future Damages

Incomplete injuries present complexities—potential improvement means some future costs may decrease, while uncertainty makes planning difficult. Expert medical testimony establishes realistic prognosis for damage calculations.

Conclusion

Understanding your specific type of spinal cord injury is essential for both medical treatment and legal strategy. Accurate classification and documentation of your injury directly impacts the compensation you can recover. Work with experienced medical providers and a knowledgeable attorney to ensure your injury is properly classified and your damages fully documented.