Spinal cord injuries are usually classified as complete or incomplete. Incomplete spinal cord injuries are more common, where some signals can still be transmitted, and the patient can still function within a certain range of motion, but this is very difficult to predict. Complete spinal cord injuries are usually caused by an accident that cuts or separates the spinal nerves, completely stopping nerve impulses from traveling through the spinal cord, making it impossible for the patient to move the affected part even slightly.

The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system and plays a very important role in the body. Spinal cord tumors are tumors that grow in or out of the spinal cord parenchyma, causing destruction of the spinal parenchyma, and compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots. Spinal cord tumors can lead to many dangerous complications if not detected and treated promptly.