A professional football player has a helmet-to-helmet collision with an opposing player. He falls to the ground and has a one minute episode during which he is posturing with his upper extremities flexed and lower extremities extended. His eyes are open and blinking. Teammates gather around him and he is muttering “chicken nuggets, chicken nuggets”. What is his Glasgow Coma Scale score during this time?
A: 8
B: 9
C: 10
D: 11
Answer: 10 (E4 V3 M3)
| Eye Opening | Verbal Response | Best Motor Response |
| 1 – None | 1 – None | 1 – None |
| 2 – To pain | 2 – Incomprehensible sounds | 2 – Extensor or decerebrate posture |
| 3 – To sound | 3 – Inappropriate words | 3 – Flexor or decorticate posture |
| 4 – Spontaneous | 4 – Confused but answers questions | 4 – Withdraws from pain |
| 5 – Oriented | 5 – Localizes pain (crosses midline) | |
| 6 – Obeys commands |
References:
Teasdale G, Jennett B. Assessment of coma and impaired consciousness. A practical scale. Lancet. 1974;2(7872):81-84. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(74)91639-0
Cameron P.A., & Knapp B.J., & Teeter W (2020). Trauma in adults. Tintinalli J.E., & Ma O, & Yealy D.M., & Meckler G.D., & Stapczynski J, & Cline D.M., & Thomas S.H.(Eds.), Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 9e. McGraw Hill.
