Glasgow Outcome Scale and Disability Rating Scale: comparative usefulness in following recovery in traumatic head injury.

Clinical experience and analysis of use of the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) are reported in 70 patients up to two years after head injury. Statistical analysis shows significant change demonstrated by the DRS across the intervals from two to four, two to six, and six to 12 months after injury. The DRS more sensitively reflects improvement during inhospital rehabilitation than the GOS, 71% to 33%, respectively. Significant improvement is shown up to one year after injury. Trend data on seven patients for whom two-year data were available showed continued improvement, although the data were not statistically significant. The DRS has shown itself to be a sensitive, functional, reliable, and quantitative means of monitoring patients with traumatic head injury during the course of their recovery.