Treatment Options
Evaluating Traumatic Brain
Injury
"Neuropsychological impairments
caused by brain injury may be characterized
in terms of three functional systems (1)
intellect which is the information-handling
aspect of behavior; (2) emotionality, which
concerns feelings and motivations; and (3)
control, which has to do with how behavior
is expressed."
"Brain damage rarely affects just one of
these systems. Rather, the disruptive
effects of most brain injuries, regardless
of their size or location, usually involve
all three systems."
One method to evaluate Brain Injury is the
Glasgow Coma Scoring System.
Glasgow Coma Score
The GCS is scored between 3 and 15, 3 being
the worst, and 15 the best. It is composed
of three parameters : Best Eye Response,
Best Verbal Response, Best Motor Response,
as given below:
Best Eye Response. (4)
1. No eye opening.
2. Eye opening to pain.
3. Eye opening to verbal command.
4. Eyes open spontaneously.
Best Verbal Response. (5)
1. No verbal response
2. Incomprehensible sounds.
3. Inappropriate words.
4. Confused
5. Orientated
Best Motor Response. (6)
1. No motor response.
2. Extension to pain.
3. Flexion to pain.
4. Withdrawal from pain.
5. Localising pain.
6. Obeys Commands.
Note that the phrase 'GCS of 11' is
essentially meaningless, and it is important
to break the figure down into its
components, such as E3V3M5 = GCS 11.
A Coma Score of 13 or higher correlates with
a mild brain injury, 9 to 12 is a moderate
injury and 8 or less a severe brain injury.
Teasdale G., Jennett B., LANCET (ii) 81-83,
1974.
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