The prognostic value of the modified Glasgow Coma Scale in head trauma in dogs

A clinical coma scale modified from the Glasgow Coma Scale used for humans has been suggested as a useful predictor of outcome in the head trauma pati ent. The objective of this study was to correlate the modified Glasgow Coma Scale (MGCS) score of dogs with head trauma with their probability of surv ival. Thirty-eight dogs with head trauma were selected and retrospectively evaluated. The information retrieved from the medical record of each dog in cluded signalment, body weight, cause of head trauma, MGCS, presence of con current neck pain, and outcome (dead or alive) after 48 hours. Logistic reg ression was used to model survival in the Ist 48 hours as a function of MGC S, gender, weight, and calvarial fractures. The MGCS ranged from 5 to 18. S even dogs died within 48 hours of the head trauma. The MGCS could predict t he probability of survival in the 1st 48 hrs after head trauma with 50% pro bability in a patient with a score of 8. Gender, weight, and presence of sk ull fractures did not predict survival. In conclusion, the MGCS is a useful index for prediction of outcome in dogs with head trauma.