Friday, May 5, 2023

ABCDE of American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale

Q: What is the ABCDE of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale (AIS)?

Answer: 

A = Complete. 

No sensory or motor function is preserved in the sacral segments S4-5.

B = Sensory incomplete. 

Sensory but not motor function is preserved below the neurologic level and includes the sacral segments S4-5 (light touch or pinprick at S4-5 or deep anal pressure), AND no motor function is preserved over three levels below the motor level on either side of the body.

C = Motor incomplete. 

Motor function is preserved at the most caudal sacral segments for voluntary anal contraction (VAC), OR the patient meets the criteria for sensory incomplete status (sensory function preserved at the most caudal sacral segments S4-5 by LT, PP or DAP*), and has some sparing of motor function more than three levels below the ipsilateral motor level on either side of the body. (This includes key or non-key muscle functions to determine motor incomplete status.) For AIS C – less than half of key muscle functions below the single NLI^ have a muscle grade ≥3.

D = Motor incomplete. Motor incomplete status as defined above, with at least half (half or more) of key muscle functions below the single NLI having a muscle grade ≥3.

E = Normal.


#trauma

*LT = Light touch, PP = Pain Prick, DAP = deep anal pressure 
^ NLI = Neurological level of injury


Reference:

American Spinal Injury Association. International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury. American Spinal Injury Association, Chicago 2002.


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