Measuring Brain Injury Severity with the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

How the Glasgow Coma Scale is Administered

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the most common scoring system used by physicians in Kansas and Missouri (and pretty much everywhere) to identify the symptoms and level of impairment or consciousness of an accident victim suffering from a traumatic brain injury.

The GCS results help measure the severity of an acute brain injury. As a Kansas City brain injury lawyer, I've seen many of our law firm clients benefit from the GCS test.  It is easy to administer, reliable and objective, and has strong correlation with potential medical outcomes after a severe brain injury.

The GCS is typically administered by a trained medical staff person or physician either at the scene of an accident or injury or immediately thereafter at the hospital emergency room or other urgent trauma care locations.  Later, it can be re-administered to determine if the symptoms and severity of the injury have improved, worsened or remained stable.

The GCS measures the following functions:

Motor Response (M)

• 6 = obeys command
• 5 = localizing
• 4 = normal flexion
• 3 = abnormal flexion
• 2 = extension
• 1 = none
• NT = not testable

• 4 = spontaneous
• 3 = to sound
• 2 = to pressure
• 1 = none
• NT = not testable

• 5 = orientated
• 4 = confused
• 3 = words, but not coherent
• 2 = sounds, but no words
• 1 = none
• NT = not testable

Understanding the Glasgow Coma Scale for Brain Injuries

A patient's Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) should be documented and provided on a coma scale chart. This chart makes it easy to identify any improvement or worsening of a brain injury victim's condition promptly so appropriate medical action can be taken.

While the sum of the GCS score is important, the individual scores in each category should also be examined. For instance, the individual scores of a brain injury patient's GCS should be reported separately (such as, E4V3M2) as well as added together to give a total Coma Score (e.g E4V3M2 = 9). For instance, a GCS score may be documented in medical records or the medical charts as GCS 9 = E4V3M2.

As we have seen with our brain injury clients, no brain injury is insignificant, and every brain injury is different.  However, in general, the GCS score is used to grade the severity of a brain injury as follows:

• Severe: GCS 8 or less
• Moderate: GCS 9-12
• Mild: GCS 13-15

Limitations of the Glasgow Coma Scale

The GCS is not a perfect test or predictor of severity, and certain factors can reduce its accuracy.  Such factors include low blood oxygen, impairment from drug use or alcohol intoxication, and traumatic shock. 

The Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale for Children

Another limitation in the GCS is that it should not be used with children, particularly young children with undeveloped language skills. Instead, there is a modified scoring system that is used for measuring the severity of brain injury in children.  This modified test is known as the Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale, or PGCS. The PGCS uses the same three tests:  eye, verbal, and motor response. In addition, the PCGS considers these three values separately as well as together.

Below is the modified grading scale for the PGCS:

• 4 = spontaneous
• 3 = to voice
• 2 = to pressure
• 1 = none
• NT = not testable

• 5 = smiles, oriented to sounds, follows objects, interacts
• 4 = cries but consolable, inappropriate interactions
• 3 = inconsistently inconsolable, moaning
• 2 = inconsolable, agitated
• 1 = none
• NT = not testable

• 6 = moves spontaneously or purposefully
• 5 = localizing (withdraws from touch)
• 4 = normal flexion (withdraws to pain)
• 3 = abnormal flexion (decorticate response)
• 2 = extension (decerebrate response)
• 1 = none
• NT = not testable

Contact Our Kansas City Brain Injury Lawyer

Brain injuries -- and the legal claims that arise from them -- can be very complex and difficult to navigate. If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury due to the negligence or recklessness of another, please know that you are not alone.  Our Kansas City brain injury lawyer and our legal team are ready to assist you.  

Please give us a call at 816-203-0143 or contact us on our website.  We are happy to help you as we have helped countless others, whether it is simply answering your questions or providing a free confidential consultation.  There is a lot at stake in a brain injury case, so make sure you get the fair treatment and compensation you deserve.  Call us today.