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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Jun 19.
Published in final edited form as: Brain Inj. 2017;31(9):1204–1219. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2017.1327672

Table 1.

Guidelines for TBI diagnosis

Factor TBI (general) TBI (mild) TBI (moderate) TBI (severe)
GCS* 3–15 13–15 9–12 3–8
LOC Any period ≤ 30 minutes > 30 minutes but < 24 hours ≥ 24 hours
PTA Any loss of memory/alteration in mental state ≤ 24 hours > 24 hours but < 7 days ≥ 7 days
Findings on imaging May or may not be present depending on severity No abnormalities on CT scan Abnormal CT scan findings Abnormal CT scan findings

GCS=Glasgow Coma Scale; LOC=Loss of consciousness; PTA=posttraumatic amnesia; TBI=traumatic brain injury.

*

Note: GCS is one of the more common methods of assessing TBI severity in a civilian context; however, it is not recommended by the VA/DoD TBI guidelines.