[Table], Table. SCI Phases - StatPearls

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Phase	Timing and Duration After the Injury	Characteristic Features
Early acute phase	First 2 to 48 hours	Increasing inflammation Edema Hemorrhage
Acute phase	First 2 hours to 2 weeks	Free radical generation Ionic dysregulation Excitotoxicity (due to glutamate-mediated pathways) Immune-related neurotoxicity Vascular disruption Progression of axonal injury and cellular necrosis
Subacute phase	Day 2 to end of week 2	Phagocytic response to clear cellular debris Initiation of early axonal growth Damaged astrocytes undergo cellular edema and necrosis Peripherally located astrocytes proliferate and help to reestablish ionic hemostasis Blood-brain barrier restricts immune cell inflow Scar formation prevents axonal regeneration
Intermediate phase	Week 2 to month 6	Continual maturation of the astrocytic scar Beginning of axonal sprouting
Chronic phase	Month 6 onward	Further scar maturation and the formation of syrinxes Wallerian degeneration persists Myelomalacia and cystic cavitations are formed [8]