Supplementary Panel: Neurological assessments
ASIA impairment scale (AIS)
AIS A – Complete: No motor or sensory function is preserved in the sacral segments S4–S5.
AIS B – Incomplete: Sensory but not motor function is preserved below the neurological level and
includes the sacral segments S4–S5.
AIS C – Incomplete: Motor function is preserved below the neurological level, and more than half of
key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade less than 3.
AIS D – Incomplete: Motor function is preserved below the neurological level, and at least half of key
muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade of 3 or more.
AIS E – Normal: Motor and sensory function are normal.
ASIA motor score
Grades of strength from 5 key muscles of the upper extremity (C5–T1) and from 5 key muscles of the
lower extremity (L2–S1) for either side of the body are summed. The total motor score amounts to a
maximum of maximum 100 points.
Muscle grading:
Grade 0 – Total paralysis
Grade 1 – Palpable or visible contraction
Grade 2 – Active movement, full range of active motion, gravity eliminated.
Grade 3 – Active movement, full range of active motion against gravity.
Grade 4 – Active movement, full range of active motion against gravity and provides some resistance
Grade 5 – Active movement, full range of active motion against gravity and provides normal
resistance.
Neurological level
Sensory level – The lowest dermatome with normal sensory function (unimpaired light touch and pin
prick) directly above the deficit. The sensory level is assessed for each side of the body separately
within the dermatomes C2–S4/5.
Motor level – The lowest myotome with substantially preserved motor functions (grade of strength ≥ 3)
directly above the deficit, provided the myotomes lying above reveal a muscle grade of 5. The motor
level can be assessed within the myotomes C5–T1 and L2–S1. If no myotome can be palpated, the
motor level follows the sensory level. The motor level is assessed for each side of the body
seperately.
Single neurological level – The lowest dermatome and myotome with normal neurological function on
both sides of the body directly above the deficit.