Comparison of the revised 2000 American Spinal Injury Association classification standards with the 1996 guidelines.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to determine the level of agreement between the most recent change in the American Spinal Injury Association International Standards (2000) and the previous (1996) classification.


METHODS
In a spinal cord injury rehabilitation hospital, data were collected on 94 subjects who had an initial neurologic examination according to the International Standards within 1 wk of injury and again at 1 yr. Comparisons were examined of the level of agreement between the 1996 and 2000 revisions in classification of the motor incomplete levels and ability to prognosticate outcome at 1 yr on the basis of the initial examination.


RESULTS
Near perfect agreement between the 1996 and 2000 revised guidelines in the classification of motor incomplete injuries was found, with no statistically significant difference for prognosticating neurologic recovery at 1 yr on the basis of the initial examination.


CONCLUSIONS
The 2000 revisions do not offer a significant difference in American Spinal Injury Association impairment classification or in predicting neurologic recovery at 1 yr.
Spinal Cord Injury and Ventilator Dependent Programs, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West Orange, New Jersey 07052, USA.
Steven C
SC
Kirshblum
Pietro
P
Memmo
Nancy
N
Kim
Denise
D
Campagnolo
Scott
S
Millis
D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000145:classification* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000145:classification* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification* / Q000534:rehabilitation