Spinal Nutrition Screening Tool (SNST) for a Patient with a Spinal Cord Injury

Parameter

Finding

Points

weight history

no weight loss

0

some unintentional weight loss; BMI 19 to 21

1

moderate unintentional weight loss; BMI 16 to 18

3

marked unintentional weight loss; BMI less than 16

4

age

18 to 30 years

1

31 to 60 years

2

> 60 years

3

< 18 years

4

level of spinal cord injury

S1 to S5

1

L1 to L5

2

T1 to T12

3

C1 to C8

5

other medical conditions

none

0

chronic condition

1

acute trauma; fracture; head injury

2

infection; post surgery

3

requires ventilation

4

tracheostomy with mechanical ventilation

5

skin condition

intact

0

red mark

1

superficial skin damage

2

full thickness skin damage

3

deep multiple pressure ulcers

5

diet

normal

0

parenteral or enteral nutrition

1

modified texture diet with or without nutritional supplements

2

nil by mouth (without parenteral or enteral nutrition)

3

appetite

good, eats all meals

0

poor, more than half left

1

not accepting food/drink; unable to eat

2

vomiting and diarrhea

3

ability to eat

able to eat independently

1

requires some help

2

needs to be fed

3

Total Score

Risk of Malnutrition

<= 10

low

11 to 15

moderate

>= 16

high