Complete sensorimotor paralysis after cord injury: mortality, recovery, and therapeutic implications

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.