1. Sumi Sunny
Research Staff Nurse
Guide:-Dr Deepak Agrawal
Addl. Professor
Department of Neurosurgery
JPNATC AIIMS

2.  A spinal cord injury (SCI) refers to any injury to
the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of
disease
 The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) is
widely used to document sensory and motor
impairments following SCI
 It is based on neurological responses, touch and
pinprick sensations tested in each dermatome

3.  To document sensory and motor impairments
following SCI.
 To categorise the patients and give appropriate
care.
 To assess nursing role in using ASIA score in SCI

4. 1. MOTOR SCORING
2. SENSORY SCORING

6.  C5 – Elbow flexors
 C6 – Wrist extensors
 C7 – Elbow extension
 C8 – Finger flexors
 T1 – 5th digit
abduction
 L2 – Hip flexion
 L3 – Knee extension
 L4 – Ankle dorsiflexion
 L5 – Long toe extension
 S1 – Ankle plantar
flexion

7. 1. ASIA-A
2. ASIA-B
3. ASIA-C
4. ASIA-D
5. ASIA-E

8.  Complete SCI
 No motor or sensory function is preserved
Nursing Implication:
◦ To prognosticate the patient
◦ Appropriate care should be provided to reduce high
risk of bed sore

9.  Incomplete SCI
 Sensation : Present
 Motor function: Absent
 Nursing Implication:
◦ As sensation is low care should be provided to
prevent bed sore

10.  Incomplete SCI
 Sensation: Present (complete)
 Motor: Present but grade 3 or less.
 Nursing Implication:
◦ Nurse motivates patient and their relatives

11.  Incomplete SCI
 Sensory: Present (complete)
 Motor: Present but have a grade more than3.
 Nursing Implication:
◦ Motivate the patient for physiotherapy and
rehabilitation.

12.  Incomplete SCI
 Motor and sensory functions are normal
 It implies the presence of a spinal cord injury
but without detectable neurological deficits.

13. TOTAL
CASES
ADMISSI
ONS
OPERAT
ED
DEATH
(%)
NON-
OPERAT
ED
DEATH
(%)
CERVICAL
SPINE
INJURY
289 178 115 5.6% 174 4.6%
DORSAL SPINE
INJURY
112 69 46 - 66 1.7%
LUMBAR SPINE
INJURY
119 60 30 - 89 1.7%

14. TOTAL
CASES
COMPLETE INCOMPLETE DEATH (%)
CERVICAL SI 289 116 173 5.9%
DORSAL 112 31 81 0.89%
LUMBAR 119 19 100 0.89%

15.  Manual system of calculating score is:
◦ Cumbersome
◦ Time consuming
 Computerized system was developed:
◦ For easy assessment and entry of motor and
sensory powers for automatic calculation of ASIA
Score
Need of this system

19.  Nurses can play a vital role in accurate assessment of
ASIA score using computerized software.
 This will help in research and follow up of SCI
patients.
 Document sensory and motor impairments following
SCI.
 Helps to prognosticate the patient.
 Categories the patients and give appropriate care.