o_19m515s4j1asl13rsiok91e166nh.pdf

Descriptions
No two spinal cord impairments are the
same. Depending on the cause of the
impairment, there may be some spinal
cord fibres unaffe ted. The following terms
are used to classify the type and extent of
impairment you have received.
Lesion
Any damage to the spinal cord is called a
lesion. If caused by an injury, it is called a
traumatic lesion.
Level of Injury
Spinal cord injuries are classified in the
medical world by the level at which the
spinal cord is damaged. The bony level
describes which vertebrae are damaged
(e.g. cervical vertebrae 6 and 7 = C6/7). The
neurological level describes which nerves
are impaired, followed by a description of
complete or incomplete.
your injury. The amount lost will depend
on how much damage is done to your spinal
cord. There are 5 main types of incomplete
injury:
Central Cord Syndrome
An injury to the cord centre usually occurs
in the neck. You may experience a complete
loss of arm function yet still have some leg
function. The sensation in the hands is
often very disordered. Bladder and bowel
are often partially spared and there may be
recovery, starting in the lower limbs and
progressing upwards.
Complete
A complete injury means there is a total
blockage of messages at your point of injury.
There will be no feeling or movement below
the level of injury.
Anterior Cord Syndrome
Anterior means ‘ the front’. Damage to the
front of your spinal cord will usually result
in partial or complete loss of movement
as well as pain, temperature and touch
sensations below the injury level. You may
still have some pressure sensation and
position sense.
Incomplete
An incomplete injury means there is a
partial blockage and some (or all) feeling
and movement remains below the level of
Posterior Cord Syndrome
Posterior means ‘the back’. Damage to the
back of your cord may leave good power,
pain and temperature sensation but create
difficultie in movement coordination. This
is very rare.
© New Zealand Spinal Trust, 2014
32