Spiny Tim

In fact, I may start getting worried sometime soon.

Beginner’s Guide to MS: Disability and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) Score – Multiple Sclerosis

Lisa Emrich

In August 1955, Dr. Kurtzke published the Disability Status Scale (DSS) which is used to evaluate a patient’s impairment due to MS on a 10-point scale. In 1983, Dr. Kurtzke published the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) which has the advantage of evaluating all major neurologic areas.

Although the EDSS lacks sensitivity to short-term changes in a patient’s status, it is used extensively in national and international trials to evaluate the effectiveness of therapy. It is heavily weighted toward ambulation assessment and fails to assess cognition, upper extremity function, and fatigue.

Fundamental to the EDSS is the Functional Systems (FS) Scale which evaluates seven areas of the central nervous system which control bodily functions (0 = normal function and 6 = unable to complete task). The FS scores are especially important in the less severe forms of disability where a patient may have same abnormal disability but is otherwise still ambulatory.

The Functional Systems (FS) include:

Visual
Brainstem (speech and swallowing)
Pyramidal (ability to walk)
Cerebellar (coordination)
Sensory (touch and pain)
Bowel and Bladder functions
Cerebral/Mental

Please note that the EDSS steps 1.0 to 4.5 below refer to patients who are fully ambulatory and the precise step number is defined by the Functional System Score. EDSS steps 5.0 to 9.5 are defined by the impairment to ambulation and usual equivalents in Functional Systems scores are provided.

Here is a summary of EDSS scores (source NMSS) -

* 0.0 – Normal neurological exam (all grade 0 in all Functional System (FS) scores).
* 1.0 – No disability, minimal signs in one FS (i.e., grade 1).
* 1.5 – No disability, minimal signs in more than one FS* (more than 1 FS grade 1).
* 2.0 – Minimal disability in one FS (one FS grade 2, others 0 or 1).
* 2.5 – Minimal disability in two FS (two FS grade 2, others 0 or 1).
* 3.0 – Moderate disability in one FS (one FS grade 3, others 0 or 1) or mild disability in three or four FS (three or four FS grade 2, others 0 or 1) though fully ambulatory.
* 3.5 – Fully ambulatory but with moderate disability in one FS (one grade 3) and one or two FS grade 2; or two FS grade 3 (others 0 or 1) or five grade 2 (others 0 or 1).
* 4.0 – Fully ambulatory without aid, self-sufficient, up and about some 12 hours a day despite relatively severe disability consisting of one FS grade 4 (others 0 or 1), or combination of lesser grades exceeding limits of previous steps; able to walk without aid or rest some 500 meters.
* 4.5 – Fully ambulatory without aid, up and about much of the day, able to work a full day, may otherwise have some limitation of full activity or require minimal assistance; characterized by relatively severe disability usually consisting of one FS grade 4 (others or 1) or combinations of lesser grades exceeding limits of previous steps; able to walk without aid or rest some 300 meters.
* 5.0 – Ambulatory without aid or rest for about 200 meters; disability severe enough to impair full daily activities (e.g., to work a full day without special provisions); (Usual FS equivalents are one grade 5 alone, others 0 or 1; or combinations of lesser grades usually exceeding specifications for step 4.0).
* 5.5 – Ambulatory without aid for about 100 meters; disability severe enough to preclude full daily activities; (Usual FS equivalents are one grade 5 alone, others 0 or 1; or combination of lesser grades usually exceeding those for step 4.0).
* 6.0 – Intermittent or unilateral constant assistance (cane, crutch, brace) required to walk about 100 meters with or without resting; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations with more than two FS grade 3+).
* 6.5 – Constant bilateral assistance (canes, crutches, braces) required to walk about 20 meters without resting; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations with more than two FS grade 3+).
* 7.0 – Unable to walk beyond approximately 5 meters even with aid, essentially restricted to wheelchair; wheels self in standard wheelchair and transfers alone; up and about in wheelchair some 12 hours a day; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations with more than one FS grade 4+; very rarely pyramidal grade 5 alone).
* 7.5 – Unable to take more than a few steps; restricted to wheelchair; may need aid in transfer; wheels self but cannot carry on in standard wheelchair a full day; May require motorized wheelchair; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations with more than one FS grade 4+).
* 8.0 – Essentially restricted to bed or chair or perambulated in wheelchair, but may be out of bed itself much of the day; retains many self-care functions; generally has effective use of arms; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations, generally grade 4+ in several systems).
* 8.5 – Essentially restricted to bed much of day; has some effective use of arm(s); retains some self-care functions; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations, generally 4+ in several systems).
* 9.0 – Helpless bed patient; can communicate and eat; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations, mostly grade 4+).
* 9.5 – Totally helpless bed patient; unable to communicate effectively or eat/swallow; (Usual FS equivalents are combinations, almost all grade 4+).
* 10.0 – Death due to MS.