The severity of a spinal cord injury is typically classified as either complete or incomplete:

A complete injury means there is no sensation or movement below the injury site.
An incomplete injury means some function or sensation remains below the affected area.
Doctors often use the ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) Impairment Scale to evaluate the level of impairment. The location of the injury on the spine also plays a key role in determining its impact, with injuries higher on the spine generally causing more significant disabilities.