What GCS score would classify a traumatic brain injury as severe?

A Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 3-8 indicates severe traumatic brain injury. The GCS is a neurological scale used to assess a patient's level of consciousness and could indicate the severity of a brain injury based on three components: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. When a patient scores between 3 and 8, it signifies a profound impairment of consciousness and a generally poor neurological prognosis. This range suggests that the patient is either in a coma or has very limited responsiveness, which is characteristic of severe brain injury.

In contrast, scores of 9-12 denote moderate brain injury, where there is some level of consciousness but still significant impairment. Scores of 13-15 reflect mild brain injury, where the patient is fully conscious and able to respond appropriately. Therefore, the definitive classification of a traumatic brain injury as severe relies on the GCS score of 3-8.