Spinal Cord Injury
A 28-year-old man is admitted following a diving accident. Examination reveals complete loss of motor function below C6 but preserved light touch sensation in the S4-S5 dermatomes and voluntary anal contraction. Motor scores are 5/5 in C5 myotome bilaterally, 4/5 in C6, and 0/5 in C7 and below. Sensory examination shows intact light touch and pin prick to C6 level bilaterally. Regarding the ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) classification:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
The ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) grades spinal cord injury from A to E: A (Complete - no motor or sen...
The neurological level of injury (NLI) is the most caudal segment with normal sensory AND motor func...
AIS A means incomplete injury; AIS E means complete injury; sensory function in S4-S5 is not importa...
Sacral sparing (S4-S5 sensory function, voluntary anal contraction, or deep anal pressure) is critic...
Prognosis varies by AIS grade: AIS A has minimal chance of motor recovery below the injury level; AI...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option