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Appendix D
Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)
0 |
Normal neurologic exam |
1.0 |
No disability, minimal signs in one functional system |
1.5 |
No disability, minimal signs in more than one functional system |
2.0 |
Minimal disability in one functional system |
2.5 |
Minimal disability in two functional systems |
3.0 |
Moderate disability in one functional system, or mild disability in three or four functional systems though fully ambulatory |
3.5 |
Fully ambulatory but with moderate disability in three or four functional systems |
4.0 |
Fully ambulatory without aid, self-sufficient, up and about some 12 hours a day despite relatively severe disability. 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. Able to walk without aid or rest for some 300 meters |
5.0 |
Ambulatory without aid or rest for about 200 meters; disability severe enough to preclude full daily activities (e.g. to work full day without special provisions) |
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5.5 |
Ambulatory without aid or rest for about 100 meters; disability severe enough to preclude full daily activities |
6.0 |
Intermittent or unilateral constant assistance (cane, crutch, or brace) required to walk about 100 meters with or without resting |
6.5 |
Constant bilateral assistance (canes, crutches, or braces) required to walk about 20 meters without resting |
7.0 |
Unable to walk beyond about 5 meters even with aid. Essentially restricted to a wheelchair. Wheels self in standard wheelchair and transfers alone. Active in wheelchair about 12 hours a day |
7.5 |
Unable to take more than a few steps. Restricted to wheelchair. May need aid to transfer. Wheels self but cannot carry on in standard wheelchair a full day. May require a motorized wheelchair |
8.0 |
Unable to walk at all, essentially restricted to bed, chair or wheelchair but may be out of bed much of the day. Retains many self-care functions. Generally has effective use of the arms |
8.5 |
Essentially restricted to bed much of the day. Has some effective use of arm(s). Retains some self-care functions |
9.0 |
Helpless bed patient. Can communicate and eat |
9.5 |
Totally helpless bed patient. Unable to communicate effectively or eat/ swallow |
10 |
Death due to Multiple Sclerosis |
SOURCE: Kurtzke JF. 1983. Rating neurologic impairment in multiple sclerosis: an expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Neurology.;33:1444-52.