FLACC Scale

Pain Assessment in Children and Non-Verbal Patients

The FLACC Scale is used to assess pain in children and non-verbal patients. Select the most appropriate option for each criterion below:

Face
No particular expression or smile		Score: 0
Occasional grimace or frown, withdrawn, disinterested		Score: 1
Frequent to constant frown, clenched jaw, quivering chin		Score: 2

Legs
Normal position or relaxed		Score: 0
Uneasy, restless, tense		Score: 1
Kicking or legs drawn up		Score: 2

Activity
Lying quietly, normal position, moves easily		Score: 0
Squirming, shifting back and forth, tense		Score: 1
Arched, rigid, or jerking		Score: 2

Cry
No cry (awake or asleep)		Score: 0
Moans or whimpers; occasional complaint		Score: 1
Crying steadily, screams or sobs, frequent complaints		Score: 2

Consolability
Content, relaxed		Score: 0
Reassured by occasional touching, hugging, or talking to; distractible		Score: 1
Difficult to console or comfort		Score: 2

Reference: Merkel SI, Voepel-Lewis T, Shayevitz JR, Malviya S. The FLACC: a behavioral scale for scoring postoperative pain in young children. Pediatric Nursing. 1997;23(3):293-297.