Spinal Cord Injuries Explained
C4 – Complete Quadriplegia muscle innervation pertains to neck muscles with limited innervations of neck muscles with limited innervations of shoulder girdle muscles
Functional Ability
- Able to breathe independently although respiratory capacity will be reduced
- Will be dependent for all activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, transfers, bladder & bowel routines, feeding etc.
- Able to drive power by using chin or head in addition to sip and puff controls
- Able to move head, shrug shoulder
- Able to access environment only through an environmental control unit set up through head controls, chin control or sip and puff
- A computer will be required for communications using a mouth stick, head pointer and / or voice activation
- In some cases mouth writing is a possibility
C5 – Complete Quadriplegia muscle innervations of neck, shoulder, girdle, elbow flexors, and possibly weak wrist extensors.
Functional Ability
- Dependent for transfers, bathing, dressing, bladder and bowel routines
- Able to push a lightweight manual wheelchair over level surfaces for short distances with the use of peg rims
- Able to assist with self-care
- Able to use a splint for writing and use of a computer
- Able to drive a power wheelchair using hand controls
- Able to feed with set up of equipment and food
- Possibly able to drive a fully modified vehicle
C6-Muscle innervations of neck, shoulder girdle, shoulder elbow flexors, wrist extensors and partial forearm pronators.
C7 – Complete Quadriplegia muscle innervations of neck shoulder girdle, shoulder elbow flexor and extensors, wrist flexors and extensors and partial innervations of the hand.
Functional Ability
- Able to transfer independently
- Should be able to dress independently – some assistance may be required with fine finger function such as buttons
- Should achieve independence with bathing, bladder and bowel routines, some adaptive equipment may be required
- Able to manage basic meal preparation
- Independent manual wheelchair ability
- Will require Attendant Care for homemaking, shopping etc.
- Is able to drive a modified vehicle
T1-T6 – Complete Paraplegia muscle innervations of the upper limbs with partial innervations of the intercostals and trunk musculature.
Function Ability
- Independence in bathing, dressing grooming, self-care, transfers and meal preparation in a wheelchair accessible environment
- Able to drive an adapted vehicle
- Full mobility using a manual wheelchair
- Should have sufficient endurance to manage community activities unless there are pre-existing medical conditions or where age is a factor
- Possible use of long leg braces for standing and not wheelchair access
T7-T12 – Complete Paraplegia muscle innervations of the upper limbs and trunk to waist level including the abdominal musculature.
Function Ability
- Full independence from a wheelchair
- Level of ambulating dependent on muscle sparing, use of braces and walking aids
Cauda Equina – muscle innervations of upper limb, trunk and partial innervations of the lower limbs dependent or existent of injury
- Full independence from a wheelchair
- Level of ambulating dependent on muscle sparing
- Use of braces and walking aids