GCS — Glasgow Coma Scale
Trauma + neurology coma scoring (3-15)
Mnemonic device
Eye + Verbal + Motor
Mapping
Eye (4)
4=spontaneous, 3=to voice, 2=to pain, 1=none
Verbal (5)
5=oriented, 4=confused, 3=inappropriate words, 2=sounds, 1=none
Motor (6)
6=obeys, 5=localizes, 4=withdraws, 3=flexion (decorticate), 2=extension (decerebrate), 1=none
Total
3 (deep coma) — 15 (normal). ≤8 = intubate.
Clinical note: GCS ≤8 = secure airway. Drop ≥2 points = re-image (expanding lesion). In intubated patient, motor + eye are recordable; verbal noted as 1T. Pediatric GCS modifies verbal for pre-verbal children.