Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Practice Exam

Which grade of the ASIA classification indicates complete loss of motor and sensory function?

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

The correct answer is: A

The ASIA classification system, which stands for the American Spinal Injury Association, is used to assess the severity of spinal cord injuries. In this system, grade A represents a complete injury where there is a total loss of both motor and sensory function below the level of injury. This means that there is no preserved sensation or voluntary movement in the sacral segments, which indicates a full and irreversible disruption of the spinal cord pathways. The other grades in the ASIA classification signify varying degrees of function: grade B indicates preserved sensory function but no motor function, grade C denotes some preserved motor function with muscle strength less than three (indicating the ability to move muscle but not against gravity), and grade D indicates preserved motor function with muscle strength of three or more, which suggests a greater likelihood of rehabilitation. Thus, understanding that grade A indicates a complete lack of function clarifies its distinction as the most severe classification in the ASIA system.