TBI: Glascow Coma Scale

Question 1

Quantifies the severity of TBI and predicts outcome; scores range from _ to __

Answer 1

3 to 15

Question 2

Scores below 8 indicate a ___ brain injury.

Answer 2

Severe

Question 3

Scores between 9 and 12 indicate a ____ brain injury.

Answer 3

Moderate

Question 4

Scores above 14 indicate a ____ brain injury.

Answer 4

Minor

Question 5

A severe brain injury is indicated by a GCS score below ___

Answer 5

8

Question 6

A moderate brain injury is indicated by a GCS score between __ and __

Answer 6

9 and 12

Question 7

A minor brain injury is indicated by a GCS score above __

Answer 7

14

Question 8

GCS scoring for motor responses

Answer 8

▪ No response (1 point)
▪ Rigid and extended response to pain (decerebrate posturing; 2 points)
▪ Flexion (decorticate posturing) in response to pain (3 points)
▪ Pulls part of body away in response to pain (4 points)
▪ Purposeful movement to painful stimulus (5 points)
▪ Obeys commands to perform various movements (6 points)

Question 9

GCS scoring for verbal responses

Answer 9

▪ No response (1 point)
▪ Incomprehensible speech (2 points)
▪ Inappropriate words (3 points)
▪ Confused conversation but able to answer questions (4 points)
▪ Oriented to person, place, and time (5 points)

Question 10

GCS scoring for eye opening responses

Answer 10

▪ No response (1 point)
▪ To pain only (stimulus not applied to face; 2 points)
▪ When asked with loud voice (3 points)
▪ Spontaneous—opens eyes on own (4 points)

Question 11

What type of posturing would receive 2 pts on the motor response section of the GCS

Answer 11

Decerebrate

Question 12

What type of posturing would receive 3 pts on the motor response section of the GCS

Answer 12

Decorticate