A complete spinal cord injury (SCI) is the complete sensory and motor
loss below the site of spinal cord injury following acute or chronic
destruction, compression, or ischemia of the spinal cord. Initially, this
may present as spinal shock, which is an acute physiological loss or
depression of spinal cord function. It presents as a flaccid are flexic
paralysis below the level of the injury with autonomic features (e.g.,
hypotension and bradycardia). After some days to weeks the spinal
shock wears off and a complete spinal cord injury may remain. It presents with spastic paresis, hyperreflexia, and continued sensory loss.