Table 1.
American Spinal Injury Association scale for spinal cord injury
| ASIA-A | Complete. There is no sensory or motor function preserved in the sacral segments of S4-S5 |
| ASIA-B | Sensory incomplete. Motor deficit without sensory loss below the neurological level, including the sacral segments of S4-S5 (light touch, pin sensation or deep anal pressure at S4-S5), and there is no protected motor function from three levels below the motor level at each half of the body |
| ASIA-C | Motor incomplete. Motor function is preserved below the neurological level1 and more than half of the muscles below this level have strength lower than 3/5 (0, 1 or 2) |
| ASIA-D | Motor incomplete. Motor function is preserved below the neurological level1 and at least half of the muscles (half or more) below this level have strength higher than 3/5 |
| ASIA-E | Normal. Sensory and motor function as assessed by ISNCSC in all segments are normal and in patients with pre-existing deficits there is "E'' degree of ASIA. Initially one without a spinal cord injury does not have an ASIA degree |
1
To have a degree of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) C or D so to be motor incomplete, the patient must have voluntary contraction of the anal sphincter or protection of motor function at more than three levels below motor level on the same side of the the body with sacral sensory protection. These standards permit the use of muscle function except the key muscles more than three levels below the motor level in discrimination of ASIA B and C. Motor levels in both sides are used to distinguish between ASIA B and C. Single neurological level is used to distinguish between ASIA C and D.