What does a motor response (GCS) score of 4 indicate?

In the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), a motor response score of 4 indicates that the patient withdraws from painful stimuli. This response suggests that the patient's nervous system is functioning to a certain extent, demonstrating an ability to react to discomfort by moving away from it. This withdrawal response signifies that the patient has some level of consciousness and awareness, even if they may not be fully alert or oriented.

The GCS is an assessment tool used to evaluate a person's level of consciousness following a traumatic brain injury or other medical conditions affecting the brain. In this scale, motor responses are critical indicators of neurological performance. A score of 4 specifically means that the patient can respond in a way that demonstrates an attempt to avoid pain, which is a more advanced level of responsiveness compared to being unresponsive or exhibiting abnormal posturing.

Understanding the significance of the GCS scores can assist EMRs and healthcare providers in assessing a patient's neurological status, guiding them in making critical decisions about immediate care and necessary interventions.