Spinal Cord Injury or Dysfunction Quality of Life Rating Scale (SCIDQLRS) (IANR 2022 version)

Abstract

The scales evaluating patients' neurological functions and quality of life are the basis of clinical evaluation and/or scientific research of nervous system diseases. Neurological functions of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are commonly assessed by using American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale or International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI). Generally, the quality of life for SCI patients is evaluated by using several available evaluating scales. International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) Spinal Cord Injury Functional Rating Scale (IANR-SCIFRS) was designed as one single method to assess various items of quality of life related with SCI, including male sexual function. However, in clinical practice, the ability of returning to society is an important index of quality of life after SCI. Additionally, the female patients' sexual function after SCI that has been neglected in the past should be reconsidered following neurorestorative treatments. Even more, this scale also can be applied to assess the quality of life in patients with spinal cord dysfunction due to diseases or disorders. Thus, the IANR added the ability of returning to society and female patients’ sexual function in the current revised version and renamed the scale as Spinal Cord Injury or Dysfunction Quality of Life Rating Scale (SCIDQLRS) (IANR 2022 version). Hopefully, this revised scale is widely used to expand enhanced improvements of quality of life following neurorestorative treatments in patients with SCI or spinal cord dysfunction.