Introduction

• Scale modified from the Glasgow Coma Score in humans.
• Scale designed to assist in evaluation of a patient with craniocerebral trauma Head trauma: assessment of patient and monitor the effects of therapeutic intervention.
• Grades initial neurologic status and then performed as serial monitoring to evaluate the patient for improvement or deterioration.
• Assigns a point score for each of three major categories:
  • Level of consciousness.
  • Motor activity.
  • Brainstem reflexes.
• Total score from the summation of the above categories helps determine prognosis.

Level of consciousness

Brainstem reflexes

Motor activity

Coma scale

Use of the system

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Platt S R, Radaelli S T & McDonnell J J (2001) The prognostic value of the modified Glasgow Coma Scale in head trauma in dogs. J Vet Int Med 15 (6), 581-584 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• King L G, Rockar A (1995) Outcome prediction in emergency and critical care patients. In: Kirks Current Veterinary Therapy XII, Bonagura J D and Kirk R W (editors); W B Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 95-98.
• Shores A (1989) Craniocerebral Trauma. In: Current Veterinary Therapy X, Bonagura J D and Kirk R W (editors); W B Saunders, Philadelphia; pp 847-853.