Table 1.

Functional outcomes following complete SCIs.

Neurological Level of Injury	Functional Deficit of the Patient	Remaining Functional
C3	The patient cannot breathe spontaneously and needs ventilator support.	-
C4	The global functional deficit requires an electric chair controlled by breathing, tongue or jaw, and static wrist orthosis for forearm and hand posture.	Impairment of diaphragm function, necessary endotracheal intubation, and mechanical ventilation
C5	Totally dependent on transfers and ADL	Breathe spontaneously Does elbow flexion, Joystick-controlled wheelchair
C6	Assisted transfer, Needing an electric chair for longer distances Requirements of intermittent probing of the urinary bladder	Active wrist extension Independent in activities such as nutrition, grooming, hygiene, and dressing of the upper train
C6-C7	Help for dressing the lower train Needing a manual wheelchair	Elbow extension (C7), finger flexion (C8) Quasi-independent for transfers
T11-T12	Needing manual chair, Neurogenic bowel Neurogenic bladder	Independence to perform ADLs Walking with orthotics is initiated
L1-L2	Traveling with a chair over long distances	Totally independent, capable to move short distances with walking orthotics, Can do knee flexion and partial plantar dorsiflexion Presenting bladder and intestinal sphincter control
Sub L5	-	Total independence

C, cervical; T, thoracal; L, lumbar; ADL, activity of daily living.