The American Spinal Cord Association (ASIA) uses a classification for impairment in a patient with spinal cord injury. The authors are from multiple institutions in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Patient selection: spinal cord injury
The single neurological level is the lowest segment where motor and sensory function is normal on both sides. It is the most cephalad of the sensory and motor levels.
AIS Grade
Neurological Findings
E
sensation and motor function normal in all segments
D
>= 50% of key muscles below the single neurological level Grade 3 or better
C
< 50% of key muscle muscles below the single neurological level Grade 3 or better AND incomplete motor injury (sacral sparing present)
B
complete motor injury (absence of sacral sparing)
A
complete motor and sensory injury
where:
• If the is no myotome to test at a given level, then the motor level is presumed to be the same as the sensory level IF testable motor function is normal above that level.
For Grade C - one or both of the following:
(1) voluntary anal contractions
(2) motor function more than 3 levels below the motor level on a given side if the patient has sensory incomplete classification
For Grade A record the lowest dermatome or myotome on each side with some preservation of function.
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