🧠 Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS)
Screen for large-vessel occlusion with the Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS).
Clinical takeaway
≥ 4 suggests LVO and possible thrombectomy benefit.
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When to use
Prehospital/ED triage for possible thrombectomy candidates.
How it works
Facial droop (0–1) + arm strength (0–2) + grip (0–2); total 0–5. ≥ 4 suggests large-vessel occlusion.
Key points
- ≥ 4 suggests LVO and possible thrombectomy benefit.
- Fast and prehospital-friendly.
- Confirm with vascular imaging.
References
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Facial droop | Absent (0) |
|---|---|
| Arm drift | Absent (0) |
| Grip strength | Normal (0) |
→LAMS0/5
- Interpretation：< 4 — lower likelihood of LVO.
| Facial droop | Present (1) |
|---|---|
| Arm drift | Falls rapidly (2) |
| Grip strength | No grip (2) |
→LAMS5/5
- Interpretation：≥ 4 — suggests large-vessel occlusion; consider routing to a thrombectomy centre.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS)?
- Screen for large-vessel occlusion with the Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS).
- How is Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS) calculated? What is the core formula?
- Facial droop (0–1) + arm strength (0–2) + grip (0–2); total 0–5. ≥ 4 suggests large-vessel occlusion.
- When is Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS) used?
- Prehospital/ED triage for possible thrombectomy candidates.
- What are the key clinical points for Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS)?
- ≥ 4 suggests LVO and possible thrombectomy benefit. Fast and prehospital-friendly. Confirm with vascular imaging.
- What are the limits and cautions when using Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS)?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- How is Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Facial droop Absent (0), Arm drift Absent (0), Grip strength Normal (0) → Result: LAMS 0 /5（Interpretation: < 4 — lower likelihood of LVO.） Inputs: Facial droop Present (1), Arm drift Falls rapidly (2), Grip strength No grip (2) → Result: LAMS 5 /5（Interpretation: ≥ 4 — suggests large-vessel occlusion; consider routing to a thrombectomy centre.）