The nurse is caring for a client who is admitted with head and neck injury following a motor vehicle accident. The nurse should identify which clinical manifestation(s) are associated with a complete transection of the cervical spinal cord? (Select all that apply.)

Rationale: A. Poor cough, diaphragmatic breathing: Cervical spinal cord injuries can impair innervation of the diaphragm and accessory muscles, resulting in weak cough and compromised respiratory effort. This is common with high cervical transections and can lead to respiratory complications. B. Absence of sensory and motor function: A complete transection at the cervical level causes total loss of voluntary motor function and sensation below the level of injury. Both sensory and motor deficits are hallmark features of complete spinal cord injury. C. Paraplegia: Paraplegia involves paralysis of the lower extremities, typically resulting from thoracic, lumbar, or sacral injuries. It is not characteristic of high cervical cord transection. D. Intact sensory but absent motor function: This describes a condition such as anterior cord syndrome or incomplete spinal cord injury. Complete transection affects both motor and sensory pathways, so this pattern is inconsistent. E. Tetraplegia (quadriplegia): Injury at the cervical level affects all four extremities, resulting in tetraplegia. This is a primary manifestation of complete cervical cord transection.