Comparing the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness (FOUR) score and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for predicting outcomes in traumatic brain injury: a comparative study.

purposeTraumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, socioeconomic loss, and diminished quality of life among survivors of all injury types. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), though commonly used in the intensive care unit (ICU), has limitations that may be addressed by the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness (FOUR) score. We compared the ability of the FOUR and GCS scores to predict outcomes in patients with TBI.

methodsThis prospective observational study included all patients presenting with head injury who survived beyond 24 hours between 2020 and 2022. Basic demographic data, prehospital care details, and neurological findings were collected. TBI severity was assessed using both the GCS and FOUR scores, and outcomes were graded using the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS).

resultsAmong 225 patients (mean age, 42.4±19.7 years; male sex, 77.8%) with TBIs, the mortality rate was 4.4%, and 15.1% experienced a poor outcome (GOS ≤2). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed good predictive ability for both the FOUR score (area under the curve [AUC], 0.85) and GCS (AUC, 0.88). FOUR score ≤12 and GCS ≤10 were identified as optimal cutoff values for predicting poor outcomes (P<0.001), with the FOUR score demonstrating sensitivity and specificity of 79.4% and 77.5%, respectively. A FOUR score ≤12 at admission was significantly associated with intubation (odds ratio [OR], 8.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.6-14.4; P<0.001), tracheostomy (OR, 21.8; 95% CI. 6.9-68.8; P<0.001), and neurological complications, including mental function deficits (OR, 7.5; 95% CI, 3.2-17.7; P<0.001), cranial nerve palsy (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.6-10.4; P=0.002), and motor deficits (OR, 9.4; 95% CI, 4.6-19.2; P<0.001). A strong correlation was observed between the FOUR score and GOS (r=0.7).

conclusionsThe FOUR score is a reliable tool for assessing TBI severity and predicting outcomes, with performance comparable to the GCS. An admission FOUR score ≤12 was associated with poor neurological outcomes, increased need for advanced airway management, and long-term disability. By capturing additional neurological parameters beyond the GCS, the FOUR score may offer clinical advantages in ICU settings for early prognostication and management of patients with TBI.