Glasgow Coma Scale

Eye OpeningE
spontaneous4
to speech3
to pain2
no response1
Best Motor ResponseM
To Verbal Command: 
obeys6
To Painful Stimulus: 
localizes pain5
flexion-withdrawal4
flexion-abnormal3
extension2
no response1
Best Verbal ResponseV
oriented and converses5
disoriented and converses4
inappropriate words3
incomprehensible sounds2
no response1

 

E + M + V = 3 to 15

  • 90% less than or equal to 8 are in coma
  • Greater than or equal to 9 not in coma
  • 8 is the critical score
  • Less than or equal to 8 at 6 hours – 50% die
  • 9-12 = moderate severity
  • Greater than or equal to 13 = minor injury

 

Coma is defined as: (1) not opening eyes, (2) not obeying commands, and (3) not uttering understandable words.