Master the Mayhem: 2025 ATLS Practice Exam – Be the Trauma Hero!

The critical assessment for neurologic evaluation during a secondary survey is measuring the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), not assessing the sensation of all extremities. The GCS is a standardized tool used to evaluate a patient’s level of consciousness and neurological function. It assesses three aspects of responsiveness: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. This scoring system allows healthcare practitioners to quickly determine the severity of a brain injury and monitor changes in the patient’s condition over time.

Assessing sensation of all extremities, while important in a comprehensive neurologic exam, is not as immediately critical for evaluating overall consciousness or acute neurological deficits as the GCS. The GCS provides a rapid and reliable method of assessing a patient's neurological status, which is crucial in trauma settings where timely interventions can significantly influence patient outcomes.