Glasgow Coma Scale score in survivors of explosion with possible traumatic brain injury in need of neurosurgical intervention

Importance: Head injury following explosions is common. Rapid identification of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in need of neurosurgical intervention is complicated in a situation where multiple casualties are admitted following an explosion. Objective: To evaluate whether Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score or the Simplified Motor Score at presentation would identify patients with severe TBI in need of neurosurgical intervention. Design, Setting, and Participants: Analysis of clinical data recorded in the Israel National Trauma Registry of 1081 patients treated following terrorist bombings in the civilian setting between 1998 and 2005. Primary analysis of the data was conducted in 2009, and analysis was completed in 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures: Proportion of patients with TBI in need of neurosurgical intervention per GCS score or Simplified Motor Score. Results: Of 1081 patients (median age, 29 years [range, 0-90 years]; 38.9% women), 198 (18.3%) were diagnosed as having TBI (48 mild and 150 severe). Severe TBI was diagnosed in 48 of 877 patients (5%) with a GCS score of 15 and in 99 of 171 patients (58%) with GCS scores of 3 to 14 (P < .001). In 65 patients with abnormal GCS (38%), no head injury was recorded. Nine of 877 patients (1%) with a GCS score of 15 were in need of a neurosurgical operation, and fewer than 51 of the 171 patients (30%) with GCS scores of 3 to 14 had a neurosurgical operation (P < .001). No difference was found between the proportion of patients in need of neurosurgery with GCS scores of 3 to 8 and those with GCS scores of 9 to 14 (30% vs 27% ; P = .83). When the Simplified Motor Score and GCS were compared with respect to their ability to identify patients in need of neurosurgical interventions, no difference was found between the 2 scores. Conclusions and Relevance: Following an explosion in the civilian setting, 65 patients (38%) with GCS scores of 3 to 14 did not experience severe TBI. The proportion of patients with severe TBI and severe TBI in need of a neurosurgical intervention were similar in patients presenting with GCS scores of 3 to 8 and GCS scores of 9 to 14. In this study, GCS and Simplified Motor Score did not help identify patients with severe TBI in need of a neurosurgical intervention.