FLACC Scale
Also written as: FLACC — Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability
Behavioral pain assessment tool for non-verbal pediatric patients using five criteria: Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability.
Full Definition
The FLACC Scale (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) is a standardized behavioral pain assessment tool specifically designed for evaluating pain in pediatric patients who cannot verbally communicate their discomfort. Each of the five criteria is scored from 0-2, with total scores ranging from 0-10. This scale is particularly valuable in PICU settings where sedated, intubated, or developmentally delayed children require accurate pain assessment for appropriate analgesic management. The tool has been validated for children aged 2 months to 7 years and is considered essential for preventing both under-treatment and over-treatment of pain in critical care.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize FLACC when referring to the specific assessment tool; lowercase when used descriptively.
In Context
- "The nurse documented a FLACC score of 7, indicating significant pain requiring immediate intervention." — nursing assessment note
- "Pain management protocols require FLACC scale assessment every two hours for non-verbal patients." — clinical protocol