Advantages and Limitations in the Evaluation of the Neurological and Functional Deficit in Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries

This review discusses the various scales used to evaluate neurological and functional deficits in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). These scales help standardize assessment and guide treatment based on the severity of the injury. The review categorizes these scales into those that assess neurological deficits and those that assess functional abilities, such as performing daily activities and self-care. The study concludes that the ASIA/IMSOP scale is the most accurate for assessing neurological deficits secondary to SCI and is considered the international standard.

• 1
  SCI severity scales are used to estimate the functional prognosis of patients after traumatic events. These scales can be divided into those assessing neurological deficit and those assessing functional abilities.
• 2
  The ASIA/IMSOP scale is highlighted as the most accurate for assessing neurological deficits after SCI and is the international standard.
• 3
  The WISCI is more accurate for documenting changes in walking levels, while the FIM is more reliable for measuring patient self-care and independence.