American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

What is the highest score for following commands in the Motor GCS score?

1. 4

2. 5

3. 6

4. 3

The correct answer is: 6

The highest score for the Motor component of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is indeed 6. This score reflects the most coordinated and appropriate motor response that a person can exhibit in response to stimuli. According to the GCS, the scoring for motor responses is as follows: - A score of 6 indicates that the patient can obey commands, which means they can perform tasks such as squeezing the examiner's hand or moving their limb in response to verbal directions. - Scores lower than 6 indicate varying degrees of impaired motor responsiveness, such as localizing pain or exhibiting decerebrate or decorticate posturing, which demonstrate less ability in terms of motor response and control. This level of scoring is crucial in assessing the consciousness and neurological function of patients, particularly in trauma and coma evaluations. Identifying the highest score provides insight into the patient's ability to follow commands effectively, which is a key indicator of higher cognitive function.