Neurological Level of Injury
Also written as: NLI — Neurological Level of Injury
The most caudal spinal cord segment with normal motor and sensory function bilaterally, used in spinal cord injury classification to define the extent of deficit.
Full Definition
The neurological level of injury (NLI) is a precise clinical and documentation concept defined by the American Spinal Injury Association as the lowest segment of the spinal cord with intact motor and sensory function on both sides of the body. It is a single level determined by examining key muscles and sensory points according to the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI). Editors must distinguish the NLI from the 'skeletal level of injury' (the vertebral level of bony damage, which may differ) and from 'motor level' or 'sensory level' (which can differ between sides). These distinctions carry significant clinical and legal weight in disability determination and rehabilitation planning documents.
Usage
Usage note: Do not substitute 'skeletal level of injury,' 'fracture level,' or 'lesion level' without confirming clinical equivalence; they may differ from the NLI in the same patient.
In Context
- "The neurological level of injury was determined to be C6, with incomplete motor and sensory preservation below that level." — ISNCSCI Classification Worksheet
- "The report incorrectly used 'fracture level' interchangeably with 'neurological level of injury'; the editor queried the author to confirm the intended term." — Proofreading Query Log