Glasgow Coma Scale


Eye-opening πŸ‘

 


Action
GCS Score
Spontaneous eye-opening πŸ‘
Open their eyes with no prompting 
4
Eye-opening in response to sound πŸ‘
β€œcan you hear me❓”
3
Eye-opening in response to pain πŸ‘
pressure on fingertips, trapezius squeeze, pressure on supraorbital notch 
2
No eye opening πŸ‘
Do not open eyes at all βŒ
1
Not testable πŸ‘
trauma prevents them opening their eyes βŒ
NT



Verbal response 

Ask❓:



Action
GCS Score
Orientated response 
Appropriate responses βœ…
5

Confused conversation 


Patient responds but seems confused❓
4
Inappropriate words 
Patient says random words that do not answer the question❓
3
Incomprehensible noises 
Patient is making sounds not saying words 
2
No response 
No words or sounds βŒ
1
Not testable 
Incubation prevents them from making any sound βŒ
NT


Motor Response 



Score the patient according to their highest score, obtained from any limb:

 


Action
GCS Score
Obeys command 
Patient performs 2 step command e.g. β€œlift arm and make fist” 
6
Localises to pain 
Patient attempts to reach towards site of pain e.g. trapezius squeeze/pressure on supraorbital notch βœ‹
5
Withdraws from pain 
Patient flexes arm rapidly at elbow, attempting to move away from pain 
4
Abnormal flexion response to pain 
Decorticate posture: stiff, straight legs, clenched fists on the chest as the arms are bent (shown below), indicates significant brain damage πŸ§ 
3
Abnormal extension response to pain 
Decerebrate posture: straight arms and legs with pointed toes and arched back head (shown below), indicates brain stem damage πŸ§ 
2
No response 
No motor response to pain βŒ
1
Not testable 
e.g. paralysis prevents motor response βŒ
NT



Completion βœ…



Add the patient’s 3 scores together to calculate their GCS Score 

Document the breakdown of scores βœ

The highest possible score is 15 indicating that the patient is fully conscious β¬†

The lowest possible score is 3 indicating that the patient is either dead or in a coma β¬‡


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