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. 2021 Jun 25;59(8):902–909. doi: 10.1038/s41393-021-00659-9

Table 1.

Demographic and neurologic characteristics of individuals responding to the GerSCI survey.

Classification of para- and tetraplegia according to the EMSCI database
Paraplegia (n = 170) Tetraplegia (n = 189) Total (n = 359)
Age at follow-up (years)
 Mean 53.82 58.29 56.18
 Range 20–87 19–90 19–90
 Median 53.00 62.00 57.00
 SD 15.20 18.42 17.10
Gender
 Male 126 (74.1%) 141 (74.6%) 267 (74.4%)
 Female 44 (25.9%) 48 (25.4%) 92 (25.6%)
ASIA Impairment Scale according to the latest available EMSCI examination
 A 66 (38.8%) 39 (20.6%) 105 (29.2%)
 B 19 (11.2%) 15 (7.9%) 34 (9.5%)
 C 25 (14.7%) 25 (13.2%) 50 (13.9%)
 D 59 (34.7%) 108 (57.1%) 167 (46.5%)
 Missing 1 (0.6%) 2 (1.0%) 3 (0.9%)

Demographic and neurologic characteristic of individuals who participated in the GerSCI survey. ASIA Impairment Scale definition: A = no motor or sensory function is preserved in the sacral segments S4–S5; B = sensory but not motor function is preserved below the neurological level and includes the sacral segments S4–5 (light touch or pinprick at S4–5 or deep anal pressure) AND no motor function is preserved more than three levels below the motor level on either side of the body. C = motor function is preserved at the most caudal sacral segments for voluntary anal contraction (VAC) OR the patient meets the criteria for sensory incomplete status (sensory function preserved at the most caudal sacral segments S4–5 by LT, PP, or DAP), and has some sparing of motor function more than three levels below the ipsilateral motor level on either side of the body. (This includes key or non-key muscle functions to determine motor incomplete status). For AIS C—less than half of key muscle functions below the single NLI have a muscle grade ≥ 3; D = motor function is preserved below the neurological level, and at least half of key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade of 3 or more.

ASIA American spinal injury association.