Glasgow Coma Scale

The Scale was described in 1974 by Graham Teasdale and Bryan Jennett (Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness. A practical scale. Lancet 1974; 2:81-4.) as a way to communicate about the level of consciousness of patients with an acute brain injury.

The GCS is scored out of 15 points.

The optimal score = 4 + 5 + 6 = 15.
The minimum possible score = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3.

A score of ≤8 requires intubation to protect the airway.

A score of 3 represents coma.

 

Eyes

• Spontaneous = 4
• To sound = 3
• To pressure = 2
• None = 1

 

Verbal

• Orientated = 5
• Confused = 4
• Words = 3
• Sounds = 2
• None = 1

 

Motor

• Obey commands = 6
• Localising = 5
• Normal flexion = 4
• Abnormal flexion = 3
• Extension = 2
• None = 1

For more information about motor scoring, see: Posturing