Trauma scoring systems explained

Abstract

Objective: To list, describe and classify the extant trauma scoring systems found in the English language literature from the vantage of utility to emergency medicine. Each system is illustrated by a table and a hypothetical case study. Data Sources: Medline citations provided the data. The systems are classified as physiological, anatomical and combined trauma scoring systems. Results: We reviewed the Glasgow Coma Scale, the Paediatric Glasgow Coma Scale, the Trauma Score and Revised Trauma Score, the Circulation, Respiration, Abdominal/Thoracic, Motor and Speech Scale, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation System, Abbreviated Injury Scale, the Injury Severity Score, the Anatomical Profile, A Severity Characterization of Trauma, Revised Trauma Score and Injury Severity Score and its revisions, the Paediatric Trauma Score and the Drug‐Rock Injury Severity Score. Conclusions: This compendium should help emergency physicians become familiar with trauma scoring systems which evaluate the extent and severity of injuries, facilitate inter‐institutional comparisons and facilitate trauma research.

Epidemiology and Outcome Determinants of Pedestrian Injuries in a Level I Trauma Center in Southern Iran; A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Injury severity was assessed using the ISS [18,19]. In doing so, an Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) was assigned to each injury based on the six body regions (head, face, chest, abdomen, extremities, and pelvis).…”

Predictive Statistical Diagnosis to Determine the Probability of Survival in Adult Subjects with Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Moves limb to command (6) Oriented (5) Spontaneous (4) Localizes to painful stimulus (5) Confused (4) Open to speech (3) Withdraws from painful stimulus (4) Inappropriate words (3) Open to pain (2) Abnormal flexion response (3) Incomprehensible words (2) None (1) Abnormal extension response (2) No verbal (1) -No motor response (1) -…”

“…Trauma scoring systems can be classed as anatomical, physiological and combined. Anatomical scoring systems quantify the extent of individual anatomical injuries, taking into account the injury site by appropriate weightings (coefficients) however these weightings are often not known when the patient presents to hospital after a civilian trauma where most injury mechanisms are blunt (e.g., falls and road traffic collisions) [6]. Physiological scoring systems are based on cardiovascular, neurological and respiratory abnormalities.…”

“…Physiological scoring systems are based on cardiovascular, neurological and respiratory abnormalities. They provide mechanisms to determine the likelihood of mortality and inform triage; but can lack precision [6]. Combined anatomical and physiological scoring systems integrate the strengths of the anatomical and physiological scoring systems to improve their estimation of the probability of survival [7].Trauma scores together with host factors such as sex, age and pre-existing medical condition are used in models to determine probability of survival [8][9][10][11][12].…”

A Critical Appraisal of the Revised Trauma Score

“…Trauma scoring has long been regarded as an integral component of prehospital triage, predicting the likelihood of serious injury or death following trauma and assisting clinicians in deciding on the most appropriate trauma facility to provide specialised care (1). Injury severity scales are also essential for appropriate allocation of resources and evaluating care at different trauma facilities (2).…”