Spinal Cord Injury Level
The most caudal segment of the spinal cord with normal sensory and motor function bilaterally, used to classify injury and determine orthotic prescription.
Full Definition
Spinal cord injury (SCI) level refers to the neurological level of injury (NLI) as defined by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale. It represents the most caudal spinal cord segment retaining full bilateral motor and sensory function. In orthotic practice, SCI level directly guides device selection: cervical injuries may require upper-limb orthoses, thoracic injuries inform TLSO or standing-frame prescriptions, and lumbar injuries guide KAFO or AFO decisions. Editors working with SCI rehabilitation documents must render level designations accurately (e.g., 'C6 complete,' 'T10 incomplete') and should not confuse neurological level with skeletal or vertebral level of fracture.
Usage
Usage note: Use ASIA classification designations consistently; do not substitute 'injury level' with 'fracture level' without clinical clarification.
In Context
- "The patient's spinal cord injury level was documented as T6 ASIA A, supporting the prescription of bilateral KAFOs with forearm crutches." — Inpatient rehabilitation orthotic evaluation
- "Editors must verify that the spinal cord injury level cited in the prescription matches the neurological level in the clinical notes, not the radiological fracture level." — Editorial quality-control checklist