For children < 2 years old, see the pediatric GCS.
Eyes
- 4pt – Open spontaneously
- 3pt – Open to voice
- 2pt – Open to pain
- 1pt – No eye opening
Verbal
- 5pt – Oriented, normal conversation
- 4pt – Confused, disoriented
- 3pt – Incoherent words
- 2pt – Incomprehensible sounds
- 1pt – No sounds
Motor
- 6pt – Obeys command
- 5pt – Localizes pain
- 4pt – Withdrawal / flexion to pain
- 3pt – Flexion to pain (decorticate)
- 2pt – Extension to pain (decerebrate)
- 1pt – No movement
Most useful when stated as individual scores and total: E4,V5,M6= 15
Head Injury Classification :
- Minor >13
- Moderate 9-12
- Severe <8
Threshold to consider intubation for airway protection (ATLS) = 8Intubated patients are given a “t” for verbal, denoted as “GCS 3t”Use pediatric GCS for patients <2 years old. (pGCS)
References:
- CDC Mass Trauma Resources Download PDF
- The Glascow Structured Approach to Assessment of the Glascow Coma Scale Link
Last Updated on January 25, 2023
Sam Ashoo, MD, FACEP, is board certified in emergency medicine and clinical informatics. He serves as EB Medicine’s editor-in-chief of interactive clinical pathways and FOAMEd blog, and host of EB Medicine’s EMplify podcast. Follow him below for more…
