Classifications In Brief: American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale

History There are approximately 12,500 spinal cord injuries in the US annually [15], with global incidence ranging from 133,000 to 226,000 cases annually [8]. The cost associated with spinal cord injuries is substantial, with estimates of the average lifetime cost of direct care ranging from USD 1.5 to 4.7 million [15]. Motor vehicles are the leading cause of injury, and are becoming an increasingly common cause in developing nations [15]. The demographics of patients with spinal cord injuries have broadened with time, however, males still account for 80% of new patients with spinal cord injuries [15]. The American Spinal Injury Association was created in 1973 to facilitate the exchange of research, data, and…