Glasgow Coma Scale

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


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



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-




Head Injury Classification



Severe Head Injury----GCS score of 8 or less

Moderate Head Injury----GCS score of 9 to 12

Mild Head Injury----GCS score of 13 to 15

Based on motor responsiveness, verbal performance, and eye opening to appropriate stimuli, the Glascow coma scale was designed and should be used to assess the depth and duration coma
and impaired consciousness. This scale helps to gauge the impact of a wide variety of conditions such as acute brain damage due to traumatic and/or vascular injuries or infections, ****bolic
disorders (e.g., hepatic or renal failure, hypoglycemia, diabetic ketosis), etcEducation is necessary to the proper application of this scale