CAISS Spine Injuries 2

Question 1

In the AIS, a cervical spinal cord injury with complete loss of motor and sensory function below the injury level is coded at which severity level?

Accepted Answer

AIS 6

Answer

Complete spinal cord injuries with neurological deficit are coded AIS 6 (maximum severity) in the Abbreviated Injury Scale.

Question 2

Which AIS body region is used when coding injuries to the thoracic vertebral body without spinal cord involvement?

Accepted Answer

Region 5 (Spine)

Answer

The Spine region (Region 5) encompasses all vertebral column injuries regardless of spinal cord involvement.

Question 3

A patient sustains a fracture-dislocation at C5-C6 with incomplete quadriplegia. What additional descriptor is critical for accurate AIS coding?

Accepted Answer

Neurological deficit presence and completeness

Answer

Neurological deficit type and completeness (complete vs. incomplete) are essential determinants of the AIS severity score for spinal injuries.

Question 4

According to AIS coding conventions, which of the following lumbar spine injuries would receive the LOWEST severity score?

Accepted Answer

L1 compression fracture without neurological deficit

Answer

A simple compression fracture of L1 without neurological deficit is a minor mechanical injury coded at a lower AIS severity than fractures with neurological compromise.

Question 5

When calculating Injury Severity Score (ISS) for a patient with an AIS 5 cervical spine injury and AIS 4 chest injury, the ISS calculation includes:

Accepted Answer

Sum of squares of the three highest AIS scores from different body regions

Answer

ISS sums the squares of the highest AIS scores from each of the three most severely injured body regions.

(CAISS) Certified Abbreviated Injury Scale Specialist Practice Test

(CAISS) Certified Abbreviated Injury Scale Specialist Practice Test

CAISS Spine Injuries 2