Complete spinal cord injuries occur anytime a person’s spine is completely compressed or severed. This type of injury will almost always eliminate the ability of the brain to send signals to any area below the actual site of the injury. For example, if a person experiences a complete spinal cord injury in the middle of their spine, the brain will not be able to send signals from the site of the injury down to the lower areas of the body. This can lead to paralysis of the lower limbs as well as inhibit the functioning of major bodily organs. This type of injury can also cause a loss of bowel or bladder control.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries refer to any type of injury that occurs to the spine where a person can retain functioning or feeling below the site of the injury. However, even though a person may retain some functioning or feeling below the injury site, the overall effects of this type of spinal cord trauma can vary widely. In some cases, an incomplete spinal cord injury case will be mild enough to where the person experiences some weakness and maybe no other signs of injury. However, incomplete spinal cord injuries can be severe enough to where a person will have symptoms similar to a complete spinal cord injury.