Table 1.

Mayo Traumatic Brain Injury^a (TBI) Severity Classification System

A. Classify as definite TBI if one or more of the following criteria apply:

1. Death due to this TBI

2. Loss of consciousness of 30 min or more

3. Post-traumatic anterograde amnesia of 24 h or more

4. Worst Glasgow Coma Scale full score in the first 24 h<13 (unless invalidated upon review; e.g., attributable to intoxication, sedation, or systemic shock)

5. One or more of the following present:

• Intracerebral hematoma

• Subdural hematoma

• Epidural hematoma

• Cerebral contusion

• Hemorrhagic contusion

• Penetrating TBI (dura penetrated)

• Subarachnoid hemorrhage

B. If none of criteria A apply, classify as probable TBI if one or more of the following criteria apply:

1. Loss of consciousness of momentary to<30 min

2. Post-traumatic anterograde amnesia of momentary to<24 h

3. Depressed, basilar, or linear skull fracture (dura intact)

C. If none of criteria A or B apply, classify as possible (symptomatic) TBI if one or more of the following symptoms are documented:

1. Blurred vision

2. Confusion (mental state changes)

3. Dazed

4. Dizziness

5. Focal neurologic symptoms

6. Headache

7. Nausea

^aAdapted from Malec et al., 2007.