SMS v.1

The SMS Provides a simplified assessment of head trauma patients compared to the GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale)

Syeeda S Farruque

models@cambiocds.com

© Cambio Healthcare Systems

The SMS helps to evaluate patients with a possible head injury caused by trauma within an acute and pre-hospital setting

The Simplified Motor Score (SMS) has been suggested as a replacement for the GCS in the evaluation of patients for traumatic brain injury. The Simplifed Motor Score (SMS) is defined as: Obeys commands=2 Localizes to pain=1 Withdrawals to pain or worse=0. Score interpretation: SMS score = 2 indicates low risk of need for intubation, neurosurgical intervention or mortality (like a GCS of 14-15). SMS of <2 indicate a significantly increased risk of having a significant traumatic brain injury and prompt evaluation and head CT imaging is indicated for these patients.

Although of value within an acute setting, a more through clinical assessment should be employed in less urgent settings

Ref. 1: Gill M, Windemuth R, Steele R, Green SM. A comparison of the Glasgow Coma Scale score to simplified alternative scores for the prediction of traumatic brain injury outcomes. Ann Emerg Med. 2005 Jan;45(1):37-42.

OBSERVATION.simplified_motor_score.v1, EVALUATION.simplified_motor_score_assessment.v1