An accurate assessment of the extent of permanent spinal cord damage can usually be completed:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It typically takes approximately 10 days to 2 weeks following injury for a complete assessment of the extent of permanent spinal cord damage to be completed, assuming no complications arise. This allows time for swelling to subside and for a clearer picture of the level and severity of injury to emerge. Immediate assessment may not provide a complete picture and waiting 6-12 months is too long to wait for important treatment decisions. 48 hours after injury is too soon to accurately assess the extent of damage.

An Accurate Assessment of the Extent of Permanent Spinal Cord