What Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score defines a severe head injury?

A Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 8 or less is indicative of a severe head injury. The GCS is a clinical scale used to assess a patient's level of consciousness following a head injury, comprising three components: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Each component is scored, and the total score ranges from 3 to 15, with lower scores reflecting a more impaired level of consciousness.

A score of 8 or less indicates that the patient has a significantly impaired ability to respond to stimuli, which is a clear criterion for severe head injury. At this level, patients typically may not be able to follow commands, exhibit purposeful movement, or maintain eye-opening without stimulation. This classification is critical for determining the immediate medical intervention required, as individuals with a GCS of 8 or less are often candidates for intubation to secure the airway and provide oxygen, given their compromised neurological status.

Understanding this classification is essential in trauma care, as it helps responders and medical teams communicate the severity of injuries effectively and prioritize treatment accordingly. Other score ranges do not classify the injury as severe, as they would still correspond to some level of consciousness or motor response.