Practice Test Geeks(NCS) Neurologic Clinical Specialist Practice Test
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Spinal Cord Injury Flashcards

6 cards from real NCS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Spinal Cord Injury flashcards as text

  1. What is the difference between complete and incomplete spinal cord injury?

    Answer: Complete means total loss of function below the injury; incomplete means some function is preserved

    Complete injuries have no motor or sensory function below the level; incomplete injuries retain some function.

  2. What is spinal shock?

    Answer: Temporary loss of all spinal cord function below the injury level immediately after trauma

    Spinal shock is a transient loss of all neurological function below the injury that can last days to weeks.

  3. What is autonomic dysreflexia?

    Answer: A life-threatening condition in SCI above T6 where noxious stimuli cause dangerous hypertension

    Autonomic dysreflexia requires immediate identification and removal of the triggering stimulus (often bladder distension or bowel impaction).

  4. What is neurogenic bladder?

    Answer: Bladder dysfunction resulting from damage to the nervous system controlling urination

    SCI disrupts the neural pathways controlling bladder function, requiring management strategies like intermittent catheterization.

  5. What are the levels of SCI and their functional implications?

    Answer: Cervical injuries affect arms and legs (tetraplegia); thoracic/lumbar injuries affect legs (paraplegia)

    The level of injury determines which body functions are affected below that point.

  6. What is the ASIA Impairment Scale?

    Answer: A classification system for SCI severity from A (complete) to E (normal function)

    ASIA grades SCI from A (complete, no motor/sensory function) through B-D (varying degrees of incomplete) to E (normal).

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Sources & references

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  1. specialization.apta.org — Eligibility, exam format, passing score, renewal, fees, late registration, registration deadline, registration, retake fee, score release · verified Nov 2026