Spinal cord injury (SCI) is classified based on neurological level, completeness, and severity using the ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) Impairment Scale (AIS).
- The lowest spinal segment with normal sensory and motor function on both sides of the body. - Tested segment-by-segment:
- Complete injury: No sensory or motor function is preserved in sacral segments (S4–S5). - Incomplete injury: Some sensory or motor function preserved below the injury level, including sacral segments.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| A | Complete: No motor or sensory function in S4–S5. |
| B | Sensory Incomplete: Sensory but not motor function preserved below the level, including S4–S5. |
| C | Motor Incomplete: Motor function preserved; more than half of key muscles have muscle grade <3. |
| D | Motor Incomplete: Motor function preserved; at least half of key muscles have muscle grade ≥3. |
| E | Normal: Motor and sensory functions are normal. |
- Only used in complete injuries (AIS A). - Refers to dermatomes and myotomes below the neurological level that retain some function.
You can expand the examination by adding:
Complete transection spinal cord injury.