Glasgow Coma Score

Question 1

What is the GCS?

Answer 1

(1. ) Allows consistent evaluation of consciousness.
(2. ) Commonly used in the context of head trauma, but it is also useful in a wide variety of other non-trauma related settings.
(3. ) Regular assessment of a patient’s GCS can identify early signs of deterioration.

Question 2

What is measured in GCS?

Answer 2

Each aspect is scored:

(1. ) Motor responsiveness
(2. ) Verbal performance
(3. ) Eye-opening.

The highest possible score is 15 (fully conscious) and the lowest possible score is 3 (coma or dead).

Question 3

How is eye-opening scored?

Answer 3

(1. ) Eye-opening spontaneously = 4 points
(2. ) Eye-opening to sound = 3 points
(3. ) Eye-opening to pain = 2 points
(4. ) No response = 1 point

Question 4

How is verbal response scored?

Answer 4

(1. ) Orientated (i.e. able to answer Q’s appropriately) = 5 points
(2. ) Confused conversation (pt able to reply but response does not seem right) = 4 points
(3. ) Inappropriate words (response is random and unrelated to Q) = 3 points
(4. ) Incomprehensible sounds (groans, noise) = 2 points
(5. ) No response = 1 point

Question 5

How is motor response scored?

Answer 5

(1. ) Obeys command (i.e. follows commands correctly) = 6 points
(2. ) Localises to pain (responding to pain by hand, head neck etc) = 5 points
(3. ) Withdraws to pain = 4 points
(4. ) Flexion decorticate posture = 3 points
(5. ) Abnormal extension decerebrate posture = 2 points
(6. ) No response = 1 point