ABPMR SCI Medicine study guide
ABPMR SCI Medicine · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Spinal Cord Injury Medicine (SCIM) is one of the subspecialty certifications offered by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR). It is designed for physiatrists who want to demonstrate subspecialty-level competence in caring for people with spinal cord injury, beyond primary PM&R certification. ABPMR lists SCIM among its subspecialties and provides examination resources, including a calendar and fees, exam security and exam-day information, and study tips. The exam assesses clinical knowledge across the SCI care continuum: assessment and diagnosis, acute management and medical complications, rehabilitation interventions and functional restoration, secondary conditions such as bowel, bladder, and pressure injury management, and psychosocial, community-reintegration, and lifelong care. The ABPMR SCI Medicine study guide has 5 sections and about 1,700 words.
01Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis in Spinal Cord Injury
The International Standards examination is the reference standard you will be tested on. Sensory testing covers 28 dermatomes (C2 through S4-5) with light touch and pinprick each scored 0-2; motor testing covers 10 key muscles scored 0-5, yielding sensory and motor scores and the neurological level of injury (NLI) - the most caudal segment with intact sensation and antigravity strength, provided all rostral segments are intact.
360 words, about 2 min02Acute Management and Medical Complications of Spinal Cord Injury
Questions test resuscitation before rehabilitation. Maintain spinal precautions during extrication, then prioritize airway, breathing, and circulation.
330 words, about 2 min03Rehabilitation Interventions and Functional Restoration
Rehabilitation questions reward knowing expected outcomes by level. C1-C4 injuries usually require mechanical ventilation and a power wheelchair with chin or head controls.
338 words, about 2 min04Secondary Conditions, Bowel/Bladder, and Pressure Injury Management
Localize the lesion. Suprasacral (upper motor neuron) injuries produce detrusor overactivity, often with detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, risking high storage pressures, vesicoureteral reflux, stones, and renal failure.
346 words, about 2 min05Psychosocial, Community Reintegration, and Lifelong Care
Depression and anxiety are common after SCI, and suicide risk is elevated. Screen systematically, but remember that somatic items such as fatigue, appetite change, and sleep disturbance overlap with SCI itself; use structured interviews and clinical judgment.
326 words, about 2 min