When Neurologic Findings Don’t Fit: Identifying Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury in the Field

This session will  review the key differences between complete and incomplete spinal cord  injuries, with an emphasis on how incomplete injuries may present subtly in  the prehospital trauma patient. Participants will explore common mechanisms,  neurologic findings, and red flags that suggest incomplete spinal cord  involvement, even when classic signs of paralysis are absent. Through focused  case studies, the session will highlight prehospital presentations where  incomplete injuries were initially overlooked or evolved over time,  reinforcing the importance of thorough assessment, early recognition, and  clear communication with receiving trauma teams.