What Glasgow Coma Scale score indicates severe injury?

A Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ranging from 3 to 8 indicates severe injury. The GCS is a neurological scale that assesses a patient's level of consciousness following a head injury. It evaluates three aspects: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response, with scores ranging from 3 (deep unconsciousness) to 15 (fully alert).

When the GCS score is between 3 and 8, it signifies a state of decreased consciousness that can be associated with life-threatening conditions such as brain trauma or significant neurological impairment. At this level, patients may be non-responsive to verbal commands, may not open their eyes, and might show abnormal motor responses.

Conversely, scores that fall into the ranges of 9-12 indicate a moderate injury, while scores of 13-15 suggest a mild injury or full consciousness, reflecting a better neurological status and higher likelihood of recovery. This differentiation is crucial in clinical settings for making decisions about interventions and prognoses.