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The Coma Scale: Understanding the Best Motor Response and Obeying Commands

When a person experiences a traumatic brain injury, it can lead to a coma. A coma is a state of unconsciousness where a person is unable to respond to external stimuli. To assess the severity of a coma, doctors use a coma scale. One important aspect of this scale is the best motor response and obeying commands.

1. What is the Coma Scale?

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the most commonly used coma scale. It is a standardized way of assessing the level of consciousness in patients with brain injuries. The GCS assesses a patient's eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. The total score ranges from 3 to 15, with a lower score indicating a more severe injury.

1. What is the Best Motor Response?

The best motor response is one aspect of the GCS. It assesses a patient's ability to move in response to stimuli. There are four levels of motor response:

• Obeys commands - The patient can follow simple commands, such as "squeeze my hand."
• Localizes pain - The patient moves their limbs away from painful stimuli.
• Flexion withdrawal - The patient pulls their limbs in when stimulated.
• Extension - The patient extends their limbs when stimulated.

1. Why is Obedience to Commands Important?

Obedience to commands is the highest level of motor response on the GCS. It indicates that the patient has intact cognitive function and can understand and follow instructions. This is a reassuring sign for doctors, as it suggests that the patient's brain function has not been severely compromised.

Overall, understanding the best motor response and obedience to commands is an important aspect of assessing a patient's level of consciousness. It can help doctors determine the severity of a brain injury and guide their treatment plan.