FLACC scale
Also written as: FLACC — Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability
Behavioral pain assessment tool for children aged 2 months to 7 years, evaluating Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability.
Full Definition
The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scale is a validated behavioral pain assessment instrument specifically designed for nonverbal pediatric patients. Each component is scored 0-2 points for a total possible score of 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain intensity. This tool is essential for pain management in pediatric anesthesia when children cannot self-report pain levels. It provides objective criteria for assessing postoperative pain and guides analgesic administration decisions.
Usage
Usage note: Age-specific tool; verify patient age appropriateness before use
In Context
- "The PACU nurse documented a FLACC scale score of 6, prompting additional analgesic intervention." — postoperative nursing notes
- "Pain assessment using the FLACC scale showed significant improvement after morphine administration." — pediatric pain management protocol