Glasgow Coma Scale
Neurology
Eye, verbal and motor, reported as the three components they are meant to be.
How it is calculated
- Eye opening scores 4 spontaneous, 3 to sound, 2 to pressure, 1 none.
- Verbal response scores 5 oriented, 4 confused, 3 words, 2 sounds, 1 none.
- Best motor response scores 6 obeys commands, 5 localising, 4 normal flexion, 3 abnormal flexion, 2 extension, 1 none.
- The minimum possible total is 3, not 0 — a patient with no response at all still scores 1 in each component.
- Totals of 13 to 15 are conventionally mild, 9 to 12 moderate, and 3 to 8 severe.
- A component that cannot be tested — an intubated patient's speech, an eye swollen shut — is reported as NT, not scored 1. The 2014 revision is explicit about this, so no total is given when a component is untestable.
- The three components carry more information than their sum, which is why the scale should always be handed over as E, V and M separately.
References
- Teasdale G, Jennett B. Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness: a practical scale. Lancet 1974;2:81-84.
- Teasdale G, Maas A, Lecky F, Manley G, Stocchetti N, Murray G. The Glasgow Coma Scale at 40 years: standing the test of time. Lancet Neurol 2014;13:844-854 — source of the current descriptors.
About these tools
OcuLearning Clinical Tools is part of an educational platform. These calculators are provided for learning and reference, and are not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation.