Holly Koester incurred a spinal<unk>  as a result of a motor vehicle collision and is now a wheelchair racer.<unk> es generally result in at least some incurable impairment even with the best possible treatment. The best predictor of prognosis is the level and completeness of<unk> , as measured by the ASIA impairment scale. The neurological score at the initial evaluation done 72 hours after<unk>  is the best predictor of how much function will return. Most people with ASIA scores of A (complete<unk> es) do not have functional motor recovery, but improvement can occur. Most patients with incomplete<unk> es recover at least some function. Chances of recovering the ability to walk improve with each AIS grade found at the initial examination; e.g. an ASIA D score confers a better chance of walking than a score of C. The symptoms of incomplete<unk> es can vary and it is difficult to make an accurate prediction of the outcome. A person with a mild, incomplete<unk>  at the T5 vertebra will have a much better chance of using his or her legs than a person with a severe, complete<unk>  at exactly the same place. Of the incomplete<unk>  syndromes, Brown-Séquard and central cord syndromes have the best prognosis for recovery and anterior cord syndrome has the worst. People with nontraumatic causes of<unk>  have been found to be less likely to suffer complete<unk> es and some complications such as pressure sores and deep vein thrombosis, and to have shorter hospital stays. Their scores on functional tests were better than those of people with traumatic<unk>  upon hospital admission, but when they were tested upon discharge, those with traumatic<unk>  had improved such that both groups' results were the same. In addition to the completeness and level of the<unk> , age and concurrent health problems affect the extent to which a person with<unk>  will be able to live independently and to walk. However, in general people with<unk> es to L3 or below will likely be able to walk functionally, T10 and below to walk around the house with bracing, and C7 and below to live independently. New therapies are beginning to provide hope for better outcomes in patients with<unk> , but most are in the experimental/translational stage. One important predictor of motor recovery in an area is presence of sensation there, particularly pain perception. Most motor recovery occurs in the first year post-injury, but modest improvements can continue for years; sensory recovery is more limited. Recovery is typically quickest during the first six months. Spinal shock, in which reflexes are suppressed, occurs immediately after the<unk>  and resolves largely within three months but continues resolving gradually for another 15. Sexual dysfunction after spinal<unk>  is common. Problems that can occur include erectile dysfunction, loss of ability to ejaculate, insufficient lubrication of the vagina, and reduced sensation and impaired ability to orgasm. Despite this, many people learn ways to adapt their sexual practices so they can lead satisfying sex lives. Although life expectancy has improved with better care options, it is still not as good as the uninjured population. The higher the level of<unk> , and the more complete the<unk> , the greater the reduction in life expectancy. Mortality is very elevated within a year of<unk> .
Spinal cord injury
Spinal tumor
Vascular myelopathy
Posterior cord syndrome
Basal ganglia disease
Spinal disease
Syringomyelia
Central cord syndrome