title: Complete sensorimotor paralysis after cord injury: mortality, recovery, and therapeutic implications.
abstract: In 273 completely paralyzed cord injured patients, the 1-year mortality was 34% in the patients with cervical fractures and 7% in the patients with thoracic and thoracolumbar fractures. Recovery of useful motor function return occurred in 6.7% of the cervical and 11% of the thoracic and thoracolumbar patients; only 1% of the patient population became completely normal. No specific treatment could be singled out as aiding recovery. A case with recovery from complete paralysis after C5--6 fracture-dislocation is presented.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States