title: Motor exam of patients with spinal cord injury: a terminological imbroglio.
abstract: The description of the motor deficit of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) varies significantly, leading to confusion within the neurological terminology. This paper proposes a concise and easy to use terminology to describe the motor deficit of patients with SCI. A broad review of the origin of the nomenclature used to describe the motor deficit of patients with SCI was performed and discussed. The prefix: "hemi" should be used to describe paralysis of one half of the body; "mono" for one limb; "para" for lower limbs, di" for two symmetrical segments and/or parts in both sides of the body; "tri" for three limbs, or two limbs and one side of the face; and "tetra" for four limbs. The suffix: "plegia" should be used for total paralysis of a limb or part of the body, and "paresis" for partial paralysis. The term "brachial" refers to the upper limbs; and "podal" to the lower limbs. According to the spinal cord origin of the main key muscles for the limbs, patients with complete injury affecting spinal cord segments C1-5 usually presents with "tetraplegia"; C6-T1 presents with "paraplegia and brachial diparesis"; T2-L2 with "paraplegia"; and L3-S1 with "paraparesis".
authors.affiliation: Spinal Neurosurgeon, Medcare Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital - MOSH, Sheikh Zayed Road; exit 47, P.O. Box 215565, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. nicandro2@yahoo.com.|Medical School, Federal University of Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiaba, MT, Brazil. nicandro2@yahoo.com.|Medical School, University of Cuiaba - UNIC, Cuiaba, MT, Brazil. nicandro2@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nicandro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010291:Paresis / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Brachial diparesis; Motor exam; Neurological terminology; Paraplegia; Spinal cord injury