INJURIES

Glasgow Coma Scale

The Glasgow Coma Scale is based on responses to stimuli in three areas: motor, verbal performance and eye opening. The scale assesses the depth and duration of coma and impaired consciousness. The Glasgow Coma Scale helps to gauge the impact of brain damage caused by traumatic and/or vascular injuries or infections, metabolic disorders, such as hepatic or renal failure, hypoglycemia, or diabetic ketosis.

Glasgow Coma Scale Eye Opening Response
  • Spontaneous--open with blinking at baseline; 4 points
  • To verbal stimuli, command, speech; 3 points
  • To pain only (not applied to face); 2 points
  • No response; 1 point
Glasgow Coma Scale Verbal Response
  • Oriented; 5 points
  • Confused conversation, but able to answer questions; 4 points
  • Inappropriate words; 3 points
  • Incomprehensible speech; 2 points
  • No response; 1 point
Glasgow Coma Scale Motor Response
  • Obeys commands for movement; 6 points
  • Purposeful movement to painful stimulus; 5 points
  • Withdraws in response to pain; 4 points
  • Flexion in response to pain (decorticate posturing); 3 points
  • Extension response in response to pain (decerebrate posturing); 2 points
  • No response; 1 point
Categorization

Coma: No eye opening, no ability to follow commands, no word verbalizations (3-8)

Head Injury Classification

Severe Head Injury -- Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or less
Moderate Head Injury -- Glasgow Coma Scale score of 9 to 12
Mild Head Injury -- Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13 to 15

See also:

Coma
Rancho Los Amigos

CDC - Glasgow Coma Scale