IS GLASGOW COMA SCALE ENOUGH TO CLASSIFY THE SEVERITY OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY?
In 1974, professors of neurosurgery at the University of Glasgow developed the Glasgow Coma Scale “GCS.” It is a neurological scale that aims to give a reliable and objective way of recording the conscious state of a person for initial as well as subsequent medical assessment. A patient is assessed against the criteria of the scale and points range from three (eyes do not open, unable to make vocal sounds and no motor movements) to 14/15 (opens eyes spontaneously, individual is oriented and localizes painful stimuli). At 15, the person is fully awake. At 3, the individual is in a deep coma. The GCS is often used to assess levels of consciousness after a head or brain injury and the scale is universally used by First Aid, responders, EMS, doctors and all other individuals treating acute medical and trauma patients.
Recently, a survey was given to Italian anesthesiologists who treat patients with brain injuries and the results of the survey show that the GCS is no longer enough to adequately classify, by itself, the severity of a traumatic brain injury. Conversely, the doctors believe, CT scans and pupil photo activity should be included in a modern clinical classification of traumatic brain injuries.
Roughly 2 million individuals suffer traumatic brain injuries each year. If the Italian anesthesiologists are correct, the CT findings and pupil reactivity to light should be included as additional ways of classifying the severity of a traumatic brain injury.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll is a Chicago personal injury firm that represents victims who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Contact us today at (312)676-7222.
