TLICS

Thoracolumbar spine injury

Morphology

0 No abnormality
1 Compression
2 + Burst fracture
3 Rotation/translation
4 Distraction

Posterior Ligamentous complex (PLC)

0 Intact
2 Suspected / Indeterminate
3 Injured

Neurological status

0 Intact
2 Root injury
2 Complete cord / conus medullaris injury
3 Incomplete cord / conus medullaris injury
3 Cauda equina

Treatment

TLICS <= 3: non-operative
TLICS = 4: consider for operative or non-operative intervention
TLICS >=5: operative

Background

TLICS = Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Score
It is the composite score of Morphology, PLC and Neurological Status.
Reference
Vaccaro et al. A new classification of thoracolumbar injuries: the importance of injury morphology, the integrity of the posterior ligamentous complex, and neurologic status. Spine (2005) vol. 30 (20) pp. 2325-33