Which spinal injury is indicated by loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury?

The situation described with loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury is indicative of a complete spinal cord injury. In a complete spinal cord injury, there is total disruption of the sensory and motor pathways at the level of the injury, resulting in a total loss of function—both voluntary movement and sensation—below the injury site. This is in stark contrast to a partial spinal cord injury, where some degree of function may remain below the level of injury due to some preserved neural pathways.

Spinal shock represents a temporary condition following spinal cord injury characterized by a loss of reflexes and motor function that can occur immediately after the injury but does not reflect the permanent state of the spinal cord's functionality. Thus, while spinal shock may temporarily exhibit similar symptoms, it is not a definitive injury classification.

Contused spinal cord injury refers to a bruise on the spinal cord that may not necessarily result in a complete loss of function. Depending on the severity and extent of the bruise, some function may be preserved, making it a less definitive diagnosis when compared to a complete spinal cord injury.

Therefore, the loss of both motor and sensory function below the injury level specifically aligns with the definition of a complete spinal cord injury, highlighting the severity and totality