Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

Which statement reflects an incomplete spinal cord injury?

1. No motor or sensory function below the injury

2. Some motor or sensory function remains below the injury

3. Full recovery with therapy is possible

4. All functions resume shortly after injury

The correct answer is: Some motor or sensory function remains below the injury

The statement that reflects an incomplete spinal cord injury is that some motor or sensory function remains below the injury. An incomplete spinal cord injury indicates that there is still some preserved function, meaning that while there may be significant impairment, the spinal cord has not lost all capabilities below the level of the injury. Individuals with incomplete injuries can often experience varying degrees of strength and sensation, which may improve over time with rehabilitation and therapy. In contrast, a complete spinal cord injury results in a total loss of motor and sensory function below the injury level, which is reflected in the first choice. The other options are misleading because they either suggest a full recovery is guaranteed or imply that functions resume immediately after the injury, which does not accurately portray the nature of incomplete spinal cord injuries. Therefore, the presence of remaining functions in some areas below the site of injury defines the situation described in the correct choice.