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Title: In pediatric patients, can the motor GCS alone be substituted for the total GCS in relation to pediatric trauma?

Category: EMS

Keywords: GCS, pediatric trauma, motor (PubMed Search)

Posted: 6/18/2025 by Jenny Guyther, MD (Updated: 3/3/2026)

GCS was first introduced in 1974 and now includes a preverbal version for patients < 2 years.

This study looked for non inferiority between motor Glascow Coma Scale (mGCS) and the total GCS in pediatric patients.  The study also examined if a mGCS<6 was non inferior to a GCS < 14 in children.  582 patients < 18 years were reviewed in this retrospective review.

The mGCS  was noninferior to total GCS as a triage tool in pediatric trauma. It also validated the use of mGCS <6 in place of GCS <14 in the field with identification of children at risk of death or requiring ICU care.

References

Yap SE, Wong HC, Chong SL, Ganapathy S, Ong GY. Validation of motor component of Glasgow coma scale in lieu of total Glasgow coma scale as a pediatric trauma field triage tool. Am J Emerg Med. 2024;81:105-110. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2024.04.031