The most common thoracic spinal cord injury involves T11 and T12 because this region has

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ribs making the spine less stable. A patient with a T11 vertebral injury may have or recover
sensations in the L1 through L4 dermatomes which include the front of the leg down to the mid
shin level. !n addition" such a patient should recover hip e#tensors" knee e#tensors" and even
ankle dorsifle#ion. $owever" the sacral functions" including bowel and bladder and many of the
fle#or functions of the leg may be absent or weak. As in the case of cervical and thoracic spinal
cord injury" it is important to assess both sensory and motor function.