Levels of Spinal Injury
The part of the spinal cord where damage occurs has a significant impact on the effect of the injury on the rest of the body. For this reason, the neurological 'level' of the spinal cord injury is
used as a method of classifying or describing the injury. The spine is commonly described with reference to segments - going from top to bottom these are the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral segments of the spine. The neurological level of spinal cord injury refers to the loss of function at one of these segments.
Generally, the higher the level of spinal injury, the more extensive the impairments will be.
High-Cervical Nerves (C1-C4)
An injury at the cervical level of the spine results in tetraplegia, that is, effects on the arms, torso and legs. If the injury causes a total loss of sensory and motor function it would be classified as a complete spinal cord injury. This would be described with reference to the level at which it occurred, for example, a C4 complete spinal injury. If some function is retained, it would be described as incomplete.
Injuries to the C1-C4 cervical nerves are the most serious spinal cord injuries,
-Paralysis in the trunk and all four limbs
- Possible loss of function in lungs (inability to breath independently), and inability to speak normally
- Effects on the independent control of bowel, bladder and sexual organs
- Reliance on constant personal care and special aids for movement such as a powered wheelchair
Low-Cervical Nerves (C5-C8)
The lower nerves in the cervical spine control the arms and hands to varying degrees. Therefore, with the ability to breathe and speak normally, but with impaired function in the upper limbs and little to no function in the lower limbs.
For example, a person with a C5 spinal cord injury is likely to be able to raise their arms but will suffer paralysis in the wrists and hands. Other C5 spinal cord injury signs and symptoms will be similar to those of a person with an injury to the high cervical nerves.