The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale: Its Role in Patients with Posterior Circulation Stroke

Abstract

The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is indispensable for both prognosis and treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, there is subtype of acute ischemic stroke (i.e., posterior circulation stroke) that is difficult to diagnose using the NIHSS. The authors report the limits of NIHSS in this stroke subtype, suggesting thereby the need to modify and render it more appropriate for the evaluation of the neurological signs occurring in posterior circulation stroke.

Validity and Reliability of the Persian Versions of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale and Modified National Institute of Health Stroke Scale in Hospitalized Patients

“…Such changes have brought several advantages for mNIHSS over NIHSS including simpler grading scale, more accessible to administration, more precise results, and shorter time to perform. These advantages have made the mNIHSS more valid, reliable and acceptable among clinicians and researchers [6,8]. Stroke is the main cause for physical disability and the second cause of mortality worldwide [9].…”

Isolated Hand Palsy in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS): Is It Useful?

“…The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a 42-point impairment scale that could be administered reliably by a variety of clinicians in a relatively short time to reveal neurological symptoms and signs in patients with stroke in a standardized manner. 2 , 3 , 4 The NIHSS provides an ordinal, nonlinear measure of acute stroke-related impairments by assigning numerical values to various aspects of neurological function. 2 , 3 This scale is used to quickly evaluate the stroke severity before and after each treatment.…”

“… 2 , 3 , 4 The NIHSS provides an ordinal, nonlinear measure of acute stroke-related impairments by assigning numerical values to various aspects of neurological function. 2 , 3 This scale is used to quickly evaluate the stroke severity before and after each treatment. 2 , 3 , 4 The NIHSS takes about six minutes to perform, with no need for additional equipment, and is easily executable after training in how to use it.…”

“… 2 , 3 This scale is used to quickly evaluate the stroke severity before and after each treatment. 2 , 3 , 4 The NIHSS takes about six minutes to perform, with no need for additional equipment, and is easily executable after training in how to use it. 3 , 5 …”

“… 2 , 3 , 4 The NIHSS takes about six minutes to perform, with no need for additional equipment, and is easily executable after training in how to use it. 3 , 5 …”