Head Injuries — Uganda (General Adult population)
Glasgow Coma Scale — Severe Head Injury
GCS 3–8. Features: altered level of consciousness, agitation, coma, seizures, focal neurological deficits, pupil abnormalities.
Glasgow Coma Scale — Moderate Head Injury
GCS 9–13.
Glasgow Coma Scale — Mild Head Injury (Concussion)
GCS >13. Transient short-lived loss of mental function: loss of consciousness <5 minutes, transient amnesia, headache, disorientation, dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting. Symptoms should improve by 4 hours after trauma.
Signs of Skull Base Fracture
Raccoon eyes (haematoma around eyes), bleeding or CSF leaking from nose or ears. Requires urgent referral.
GCS Scoring — Eye Opening
No response: 1. Open to pain: 2. Open to voice: 3. Open spontaneously: 4.
GCS Scoring — Verbal Response
No response: 1. Incomprehensible sounds: 2. Inappropriate words: 3. Disoriented but conversing: 4. Oriented and conversing: 5.
GCS Scoring — Motor Response
No response: 1. Extension to pain (decerebrate): 2. Abnormal flexion (decorticate): 3. Flexion/withdrawal from pain: 4. Localising pain: 5. Obeys commands: 6.
Related Clinical Tools
