Unification of the revised trauma score

The Magnitude of Change in Serum Phosphate Concentration Is Associated with Mortality in Patients with Severe Trauma

PURPOSE

Previous studies have suggested that serum phosphate concentration is a prognostic factor in critically ill patients. However, the association between changes in serum phosphate levels and prognosis of patients with trauma remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included patients with severe trauma who were treated at the emergency department. Delta phosphate (Δ phosphate) was defined as the difference between serum phosphate concentrations measured at baseline and after 24 hours from the initial measurement. Patients were divided into five groups according to their Δ phosphate levels: group I (Δ phosphate <-2 mg/dL), group II (Δ phosphate -2 to -0.5 mg/dL), group III (Δ phosphate -0.5 to 0.5 mg/dL), group IV (Δ phosphate 0.5 to 2 mg/dL), and group V (Δ phosphate ≥2 mg/dL).

RESULTS

Overall, 1905 patients with severe trauma were included in the analysis. The 30-day mortality was the lowest in group III and tended to increase in groups with a larger Δ phosphate in both the positive and negative directions (group I: 13.7%, group II: 6.8%, group III: 4.6%, group IV: 6.6%, and group V: 26.8%). In multivariable analysis with group III as the reference group, the odds ratios (ORs) of mortality were statistically significant in group IV [OR, 1.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-3.56] and group V (OR, 5.28; 95% CI, 2.47-11.24).

CONCLUSION

An increase in serum phosphate concentrations 24 hours after the initial measurement could be considered as an independent prognostic factor in patients with severe trauma.

Immediate CT after hospital arrival and decreased in-hospital mortality in severely injured trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Immediate whole-body CT (about 10 min after arrival) in an all-in-one resuscitation room equipped with CT has been found to be associated with shorter time to haemostasis and lower in-hospital mortality. The aim of this study was to elucidate the benefits of immediate whole-body CT after hospital arrival in patients with severe trauma with the hypothesis that immediate CT within 10 min is associated with lower in-hospital mortality.

METHOD

This retrospective cohort study of patients with an injury severity score of more than 15 who underwent whole-body CT was conducted using the Japanese Trauma Databank (2019-2020). An immediate CT was conducted within 10 min after arrival. In-hospital mortality, frequency of subsequent surgery, and time to surgery were compared with immediate and non-immediate CT. Inverse probability weighting was conducted to adjust for patient backgrounds, including mechanism and severity of injury, prehospital treatment, vital signs, and institutional characteristics.

RESULTS

Among the 7832 patients included, 646 underwent immediate CT. Immediate CT was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (12.5 versus 15.7 per cent; adjusted OR 0.77 (95 per cent c.i. 0.69 to 0.84); P < 0.001) and fewer damage-control surgeries (OR 0.75 (95 per cent c.i. 0.65 to 0.87)). There was a 10 to 20 min difference in median time to craniotomy, laparotomy, and angiography. These benefits were observed regardless of haemodynamic instability on hospital arrival, while they were identified only in elderly patients with severe injury and altered consciousness.

CONCLUSION

Immediate CT within 10 min after arrival was associated with decreased in-hospital mortality in severely injured trauma patients.

De un centro de trauma a un sistema de trauma en el suroccidente colombiano

Introducción. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el impacto sobre la mortalidad según el perfil de ingreso a un centro de trauma del suroccidente colombiano, como método para entender las dinámicas de atención del paciente con trauma. Métodos. Se realizó un subanálisis del registro de la Sociedad Panamericana de Trauma asociado a un centro de trauma en el suroccidente colombiano. Se analizaron los pacientes atendidos entre los años 2012 y 2021. Se compararon los pacientes con condición de ingreso directo y aquellos que ingresaron remitidos. Se hicieron análisis de poblaciones de interés como pacientes con trauma severo (ISS > 15) y pacientes con/sin trauma craneoencefálico. Se evaluó el impacto de los pacientes remitidos y su condición al ingreso sobre la mortalidad. Resultados. Se incluyeron 10.814 pacientes. La proporción de pacientes remitidos fue del 54,7 %. Los pacientes que ingresaron remitidos presentaron diferencias respecto a la severidad del trauma y compromiso fisiológico al ingreso comparado con los pacientes con ingreso directo. Los pacientes remitidos tienen mayor riesgo de mortalidad (RR: 2,81; IC95% 2,44-3,22); sin embargo, es el estado fisiológico al ingreso lo que impacta en la mortalidad. Conclusión. Los pacientes remitidos de otras instituciones tienen un mayor riesgo de mortalidad, siendo una inequidad en salud que invita a la articulación de actores institucionales en la atención de trauma. Un centro de trauma debe relacionarse con las instituciones asociadas para crear un sistema de trauma que optimice la atención de los pacientes y la oportunidad.

Characteristics of Laparoscopic Surgery for Trauma Patients and Risks of Conversion to Open Laparotomy

BACKGROUND

The discussion is ongoing about appropriate indications for laparoscopic surgery in trauma patients. As timing and risks of conversion to laparotomy remain unclear, we aimed to elucidate characteristics of and risks for conversion following laparoscopic surgery, using a nationwide database.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted, using Japanese Trauma Data Bank (2004-2018). We included adult trauma patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery as an initial surgical intervention. Conversion to laparotomy was defined as laparotomy at the initial surgery. Patient demographics, mechanism and severity of injury, injured organs, timing of surgery, and clinical outcomes were compared between patients with and without conversion. Risks for conversion were analyzed focusing on indications for laparoscopic surgery, after adjusting patient and institution characteristics.

RESULTS

Among 444 patients eligible for the study, 31 required conversions to laparotomy. The number of laparoscopic surgeries gradually increased over the study period (0.5-4.5% of trauma laparotomy), without changes in conversion rates (5-10%). Patients who underwent conversion had more severe abdominal injuries compared with those who did not (AIS 3 vs 2). While length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality were comparable, abdominal complications were higher among patients with conversion (12.9 vs. 2.9%), particularly when laparoscopy was performed for peritonitis (OR, 22.08 [5.11-95.39]). A generalized estimating equation model adjusted patient background and identified hemoperitoneum and peritoneal penetration as risks for conversion (OR, 24.07 [7.35-78.75] and 8.26 [1.20- 56.75], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Trauma laparoscopy for hemoperitoneum and peritoneal penetration were associated with higher incidence of conversion to open laparotomy.

Association between the initial serum phosphate level and 30-day mortality in blunt trauma patients

BACKGROUND

Studies on patients with cardiac arrest or sepsis have reported that high initial phosphate levels are associated with poor outcomes. However, no previous study has investigated the association between initial phosphate levels and outcomes in blunt trauma patients.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective observational study conducted on blunt trauma patients who had been treated at the single regional trauma center between January 2016 and December 2017. Patients' demographic data, initial vital signs, trauma scores, and laboratory parameters including phosphate levels were collected from the trauma registry. The primary outcome was set to 30-day mortality. The secondary outcomes were the total volume of blood transfused, 30-day hospital-free days, and 30-day intensive care unit-free days.

RESULTS

Of the 1,907 included patients, 1,836 were in the survival group, and 71 were in the nonsurvival group. The nonsurvival group had a significantly higher phosphate level than the survival group. Patients in the hyperphosphatemia group had a higher 30-day mortality, fewer 30-day intensive care unit-free days, and higher transfusion volume than those in the other groups. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, hyperphosphatemia was independently associated with 30-day mortality. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve with the inclusion of phosphate in addition to Injury Severity Score, Revised Trauma Score, and age was 0.911. Area under the curve was also increased when phosphate was simply added to Injury Severity Score and Revised Trauma Score.

CONCLUSION

In blunt trauma patients, hyperphosphatemia was associated with an increased 30-day mortality.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic, level III.

Physician-staffed ambulance and increased in-hospital mortality of hypotensive trauma patients following prolonged prehospital stay: A nationwide study

BACKGROUND

The benefits of physician-staffed emergency medical services (EMS) for trauma patients remain unclear because of the conflicting results on survival. Some studies suggested potential delays in definitive hemostasis due to prolonged prehospital stay when physicians are dispatched to the scene. We examined hypotensive trauma patients who were transported by ambulance, with the hypothesis that physician-staffed ambulances would be associated with increased in-hospital mortality, compared with EMS personnel-staffed ambulances.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study that included hypotensive trauma patients (systolic blood pressure ≤ 90 mm Hg at the scene) transported by ambulance was conducted using the Japan Trauma Data Bank (2004-2019). Physician-staffed ambulances are capable of resuscitative procedures, such as thoracotomy and surgical airway management, while EMS personnel-staffed ambulances could only provide advanced life support. In-hospital mortality and prehospital time until the hospital arrival were compared between patients who were classified based on the type of ambulance. Inverse probability weighting was conducted to adjust baseline characteristics including age, sex, comorbidities, mechanism of injury, vital signs at the scene, injury severity, and ambulance dispatch time.

RESULTS

Among 14,652 patients eligible for the study, 738 were transported by a physician-staffed ambulance. In-hospital mortality was higher in the physician-staffed ambulance than in the EMS personnel-staffed ambulance (201/699 [28.8%] vs. 2287/13,090 [17.5%]; odds ratio, 1.90 [1.61-2.26]; adjusted odds ratio, 1.22 [1.14-1.30]; p < 0.01), and the physician-staffed ambulance showed longer prehospital time (50 [36-66] vs. 37 [29-48] min, difference = 12 [11-12] min, p < 0.01). Such potential harm of the physician-staffed ambulance was only observed among patients who arrived at the hospital with persistent hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg on hospital arrival) in subgroup analyses.

CONCLUSION

Physician-staffed ambulances were associated with prolonged prehospital stay and increased in-hospital mortality among hypotensive trauma patients compared with EMS personnel-staffed ambulance.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, level IV.

Hyperoxemia during resuscitation of trauma patients and increased intensive care unit length of stay: inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis

Background

Information on hyperoxemia among patients with trauma has been limited, other than traumatic brain injuries. This study aimed to elucidate whether hyperoxemia during resuscitation of patients with trauma was associated with unfavorable outcomes.

Methods

A post hoc analysis of a prospective observational study was carried out at 39 tertiary hospitals in 2016–2018 in adult patients with trauma and injury severity score (ISS) of > 15. Hyperoxemia during resuscitation was defined as PaO₂ of ≥ 300 mmHg on hospital arrival and/or 3 h after arrival. Intensive care unit (ICU)-free days were compared between patients with and without hyperoxemia. An inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPW) analysis was conducted to adjust patient characteristics including age, injury mechanism, comorbidities, vital signs on presentation, chest injury severity, and ISS. Analyses were stratified with intubation status at the emergency department (ED). The association between biomarkers and ICU length of stay were then analyzed with multivariate models.

Results

Among 295 severely injured trauma patients registered, 240 were eligible for analysis. Patients in the hyperoxemia group (n = 58) had shorter ICU-free days than those in the non-hyperoxemia group [17 (10–21) vs 23 (16–26), p < 0.001]. IPW analysis revealed the association between hyperoxemia and prolonged ICU stay among patients not intubated at the ED [ICU-free days = 16 (12–22) vs 23 (19–26), p = 0.004], but not among those intubated at the ED [18 (9–20) vs 15 (8–23), p = 0.777]. In the hyperoxemia group, high inflammatory markers such as soluble RAGE and HMGB-1, as well as low lung-protective proteins such as surfactant protein D and Clara cell secretory protein, were associated with prolonged ICU stay.

Conclusions

Hyperoxemia until 3 h after hospital arrival was associated with prolonged ICU stay among severely injured trauma patients not intubated at the ED.

Trial registration

UMIN-CTR, UMIN000019588. Registered on November 15, 2015.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13017-021-00363-2.

Predictive value of Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) and Revised Trauma Score (RTS) for the short-term prognosis of emergency trauma patients: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the predictive value of the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) and Revised Trauma Score (RTS) for emergency trauma patients who died within 24 hours.

DESIGN

A retrospective, single-centred study.

SETTING

This study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Southern China.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1739 patients with acute trauma, aged 16 years or older who presented to the emergency department from 1 November 2016 to 30 November 2019, were included.

INTERVENTIONS NONE

None.

OUTCOME

24-hour mortality was the primary outcome of trauma.

RESULTS

1739 patients were divided into the survival group (1709 patients,98.27%), and the non-survival group (30 patients,1.73%). Crude OR and adjusted OR of MEWS were 1.99, 95% CI (1.73 to 2.29), and 2.00, 95% CI (1.74 to 2.31), p<0.001, respectively. Crude OR and adjusted OR of RTS were 0.62, 95% CI (0.55 to 0.69) and 0.61, 95% CI (0.55 to 0.68), p<0.001, respectively. The area under the curve of MEWS was significantly higher than that of RTS (p=0.005): 0.927, 95% CI (0.914 to 0.939) vs 0.799, 95% CI (0.779 to 0.817).

CONCLUSIONS

Both MEWS and RTS were independent predictors of the short-term prognosis in emergency trauma patients, MEWS had better predictive efficacy.

Blood Glucose Levels Combined with Triage Revised Trauma Score Improve the Outcome Prediction in Adults and in Elderly Patients with Trauma

INTRODUCTION

This study was aimed to assess if combining the evaluation of blood glucose level (BGL) and the Triage Revised Trauma Score (T-RTS) may result in a more accurate prediction of the actual clinical outcome, both in general adult population and in elderly patients with trauma.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study, conducted in the emergency department (ED) of an urban teaching hospital, with an average ED admission rate of 75,000 patients per year. Those excluded: known diagnosis of diabetes, age <18 years old, pregnancy, and mild trauma (classified as isolate trauma of upper or lower limb, in absence of exposed fractures). A combined Revised Trauma Score Glucose (RTS-G) score was obtained adding to T-RTS: two for BGL <160mg/dL (8.9mmol/L); one for BGL ≥160mg/dL and < 200mg/dL (11.1mmol/L); and zero for BGL ≥ 200mg/dL. The primary outcome was a composite of patient's death in ED or admission to intensive care unit (ICU). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the overall performance of T-RTS and of the combined RTS-G score.

RESULTS

Among a total of 68,933 traumas, 9,436 patients (4,407 females) were enrolled, aged from 18 to 103 years; 4,288 were aged ≥65 years. A total of 577 (6.1%) met the primary endpoint: 38 patients died in ED (0.4%) and 539 patients were admitted to ICU. The T-RTS and BGL were independently associated to primary endpoint at multivariate analysis. The cumulative RTS-G score was significantly more accurate than T-RTS and reached the best accuracy in elderly patients. In general population, ROC area under curve (AUC) for T-RTS was 0.671 (95% CI, 0.661 - 0.680) compared to RTS-G ROC AUC 0.743 (95% CI, 0.734 - 0.752); P <.001. In patients ≥65 years, T-RTS ROC AUC was 0.671 (95% CI, 0.657 - 0.685) compared to RTS-G ROC AUC 0.780 (95% CI, 0.768 - 0.793); P <.001.

CONCLUSIONS

Results showed RTS-G could be used effectively at ED triage for the risk stratification for death in ED and ICU admission of trauma patients, and it could reduce under-triage of approximately 20% compared to T-RTS. Comparing ROC AUCs, the combined RTS-G score performs significantly better than T-RTS and gives best results in patients ≥65 years.

Factors affecting mortality in major trauma patients in Trinidad and Tobago – A view from the developing world

Introduction

There are few data on major trauma in the developing world. This study investigated the characteristics and outcomes of seriously injured patients in Trinidad and Tobago, using Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) methodology. We also aimed to assess the predictive accuracy of the TRISS model in patients in Trinidad and Tobago.

Methods

Retrospective data from major trauma patients attending the Emergency Department of a tertiary hospital in Trinidad between 2010 and 2014 were analysed. Patients ≥18 years having an Injury Severity Score >15 were included. The impact of age, gender, comorbidities, mechanisms and patterns of injury on mortality was investigated. Using TRISS methodology, predicted mortality was calculated and compared to actual mortality.

Results

Of 323 patients analysed, 284 were male and 24 were aged ≥65 years. The commonest injury mechanisms in younger people were motor vehicle accidents (34.1%) and stabbings (30.8%) compared to falls (66.7%) and motor vehicle accidents (20.8%) in people aged ≥65 years. The commonest areas injured were the chest in younger patients (81.9%) and the head and neck in patients aged ≥65 years (58.3%). Women’s mortality rates were similar to men (RR 1.8; 95% CI 0.7–4.9). Mortality was higher with age ≥65 years (RR 7.0; 95% CI 3.1–15.9), blunt trauma (RR 7.6; 95% CI 1.8–32.4) and Charlson Comorbidity Index of 1 or more (RR 3.2; 95% CI 1.3–8.0). The TRISS model performed well at lower ISS scores and was excellent at predicting survival (discrimination statistic 0.94).

Conclusion

Multiple factors influence mortality in major trauma patients in Trinidad and Tobago, including age, co-morbidities and injury mechanism. TRISS methodology accurately predicted survival in this population but was better at predicting mortality in patients with lower Injury Severity Score.

Dynamic vital signs may predict in-hospital mortality in elderly trauma patients

Vital signs (VS) are dynamic parameters and understanding the significance of changes in VS in the acute setting may offer clinical meaning. We aimed to measure dynamic changes in vital signs (ΔVS) between site of trauma and presentation to hospital and investigate the association between ΔVS and in-hospital mortality among elderly with trauma.We conducted a retrospective cohort study between 2004 and 2015 using data from the nationwide trauma registry. Patients aged ≥75 years were included. Data were collected at scene of trauma and at arrival of emergency department (ED) in Japan with blunt or penetrating trauma. ΔVS scoring was defined based on clinical implications and previous reports. One point was given for each of the following criteria: systolic blood pressure reduction (-ΔSBP) of ≥30 mm Hg, heart rate increase (ΔHR) of ≥20/minute, and respiratory rate increase (ΔRR) of ≥10/minute between site of trauma and ED. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.Of 236,698 patients in the registry, data from 28,860 eligible patients (12.2%) were analyzed [mean age (SD), 83.2 (0.3); males, 57%]. Overall in-hospital mortality rate was 10.0%. In-hospital mortality increased from 9.0% to 16.5% for -ΔSBP; 9.2% to 22.2% for ΔHR; and 9.7% to 15.9% for ΔRR. ΔVS scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3 points were associated with in-hospital mortality of 8.2%, 14.9%, 30.1%, and 50.0%, respectively.A score based on the dynamic changes of VS, ΔVS score, may be helpful in predicting in-hospital mortality among elderly with trauma.

Comparative analysis of MGAP, GAP, and RISC2 as predictors of patient outcome and emergency interventional need in emergency room treatment of the injured

PURPOSE

Little is known about the capabilities of triage and risk scores to predict the outcomes of injured patients, other than mortality, or to determine the need for trauma center resources.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of prospectively gathered monocenter data on consecutively admitted adult emergency room trauma patients. For each patient, the GAP (Glasgow Coma Scale, Age and Pressure), MGAP (mechanism + GAP) scores and the revised injury severity classification 2 (RISC2) were calculated. The predictive performance of these scores was compared for the assessment of trauma severity, hospital resource need and early patient outcomes (area under the receiver operator characteristics, AUROC).

RESULTS

2112 patients were evaluated [mean age 49.1 years; Injury Severity Score (ISS) 9.5]. GAP, MGAP, and RISC2 worked best at predicting mortality (AUROC 93.2, 93.5 and 96.1%, respectively). Other endpoints such as ISS > 15, emergency interventions, disability status, and return-not-home were predicted less precisely by these three scores, better by RISC2 (AUROC range 66.2-88.8%) than by (M)GAP-scores (55.2-84.1%), except for preclinical interventions. Over- and undertriage rates for the (M)GAP scores varied between 27.5-53.4% and 10.4-30%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The almost comparable precision of the three risk scores in the prediction of outcome or interventional need following trauma, and the fact, that the RISC2 can only be calculated following extensive diagnostics, favor earlier applicable (M)GAP scoring in the emergency setting. Overall, due to its easier use, the GAP appears to be the most preferable for the early assessment and triage of the injured in a trauma setting based on this European trauma center experience (NCT02165137).

Trauma models to identify major trauma and mortality in the prehospital setting

BACKGROUND

Patients with major trauma might benefit from treatment in a trauma centre, but early identification of major trauma (Injury Severity Score (ISS) over 15) remains difficult. The aim of this study was to undertake an external validation of existing prognostic models for injured patients to assess their ability to predict mortality and major trauma in the prehospital setting.

METHODS

Prognostic models were identified through a systematic literature search up to October 2017. Injured patients transported by Emergency Medical Services to an English hospital from the Trauma Audit and Research Network between 2013 and 2016 were included. Outcome measures were major trauma (ISS over 15) and in-hospital mortality. The performance of the models was assessed in terms of discrimination (concordance index, C-statistic) and net benefit to assess the clinical usefulness.

RESULTS

A total of 154 476 patients were included to validate six previously proposed prediction models. Discriminative ability ranged from a C-statistic value of 0·602 (95 per cent c.i. 0·596 to 0·608) for the Mechanism, Glasgow Coma Scale, Age and Arterial Pressure model to 0·793 (0·789 to 0·797) for the modified Rapid Emergency Medicine Score (mREMS) in predicting in-hospital mortality (11 882 patients). Major trauma was identified in 52 818 patients, with discrimination from a C-statistic value of 0·589 (0·586 to 0·592) for mREMS to 0·735 (0·733 to 0·737) for the Kampala Trauma Score in predicting major trauma. None of the prediction models met acceptable undertriage and overtriage rates.

CONCLUSION

Currently available prehospital trauma models perform reasonably in predicting in-hospital mortality, but are inadequate in identifying patients with major trauma. Future research should focus on which patients would benefit from treatment in a major trauma centre.

Correlation between field triage criteria and the injury severity score of trauma patients in a French inclusive regional trauma system

Background

In France, the pre-hospital field triage of trauma patients is currently based on the Vittel criteria algorithm. This algorithm was originally created in 2002 before the stratification of trauma centers and, at the national level, has not been revised since. This could be responsible for the overtriage of trauma patients in Level I Trauma Centers. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between each Vittel field triage criterion and trauma patients’ Injury Severity Score.

Methods

Our Level I Trauma Center receives an average of 300 trauma patients per year. Demographic and physiological data, along with the entire trauma patient management process and Vittel field triage criteria, are recorded in a local trauma registry. The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS) are calculated after a complete assessment of the trauma victim during their in-hospital management. Results were concerned with the presence of an ISS of greater than 15, which defined a major trauma patient; mortality within 30 days; and admission to the intensive care unit. This study is a registry analysis from January 2013 to September 2017.

Results

Of the 1373 patients in the registry, 1151 were included in the analysis with a mean age of 43 years (± 19) and a median ISS of 13 (IQR = 5–22), where 887 (77%) were male. Nine of the 24 Vittel criteria were associated with an ISS > 15. In a multivariate analysis, no criterion related to kinetic elements was significantly correlated with an ISS > 15, mortality within 30 days, or admission to intensive care. Three algorithm categories were predictive of a major trauma patient (ISS > 15): physiological variables, pre-hospital resuscitation, and physical injuries, while kinetic elements were not.

Conclusions

Criteria related to physiological variables, pre-hospital resuscitation, and physical injuries are the most relevant to predicting the severity of a trauma patient’s condition. A revision of the VCA could potentially have beneficial effects on the over and undertriage phenomena, which constitute ongoing medical and financial concerns.

Is Whole-Body CT Associated With Reduced In-Hospital Mortality in Children With Trauma? A Nationwide Study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate whether whole-body CT for children with trauma is associated with a different mortality than only selective CT.

DESIGN

A multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Nationwide trauma registry from 183 tertiary emergency medical centers in Japan.

PATIENTS

We enrolled pediatric trauma patients less than 16 years old who underwent whole-body CT or selective CT from 2004 to 2014.

INTERVENTIONS

We classified the patients into a whole-body CT group if they underwent head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis CT and a selective CT group if they underwent at least one, but not all, of the above scans.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We analyzed data from 9,170 eligible patients (males, 6,362 [69%]; median age, 9 yr [6-12 yr]). Of these, 3,501 (38%) underwent whole-body CT. The overall in-hospital mortality was 180 of 9,170 (2.0%), that of patients who underwent whole-body CT was 102 of 3,501 (2.9%), and that of patients who underwent selective CT was 78 of 5,669 (1.4%). After adjusted multilevel logistic regressions and propensity score matching, the whole-body CT group demonstrated no significant difference in terms of in-hospital mortality compared with the selective CT group. The adjusted odds ratios (whole-body CT vs selective CT) for in-hospital mortality were as follows: multilevel logistic regression model 1 (1.05 [95% CI, 0.70-1.56]); multilevel logistic regression model 2 (0.72 [95% CI, 0.44-1.17]); propensity score-matched model 1 (0.98 [95% CI, 0.65-1.47]); and propensity score-matched model 2 (0.71 [95% CI, 0.46-1.08]). Subgroup analyses also revealed similarities between CT selection and in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In this nationwide study, whole-body CT was frequently used among Japanese children with trauma. However, compared with the use of selective CT, our results did not support the use of whole-body CT to reduce in-hospital mortality. Selective use of imaging may result in less radiation exposure and provide more benefits than whole-body CT to pediatric trauma patients.

Risk stratification tools in emergency general surgery

The use of risk stratification tools (RST) aids in clinical triage, decision making and quality assessment in a wide variety of medical fields. Although emergency general surgery (EGS) is characterized by a comorbid, physiologically acute patient population with disparately high rates of perioperative morbidity and mortality, few RST have been explicitly examined in this setting. We examined the available RST with the intent of identifying a tool that comprehensively reflects an EGS patients perioperative risk for death or complication. The ideal tool would combine individualized assessment with relative ease of use. Trauma Scoring Systems, Critical Care Scoring Systems, Surgical Scoring Systems and Track and Trigger Models are reviewed here, with the conclusion that Emergency Surgery Acuity Score and the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Programme Universal Surgical Risk Calculator are the most applicable and appropriate for EGS.

Validating performance of TRISS, TARN and NORMIT survival prediction models in a Norwegian trauma population

Introduction

Anatomic injury, physiological derangement, age, injury mechanism and pre‐injury comorbidity are well‐founded predictors of trauma outcome. Statistical prediction models may have poorer discrimination, calibration and accuracy when applied in new locations. We aimed to compare the TRISS, TARN and NORMIT survival prediction models in a Norwegian trauma population.

Methods

Consecutive patients admitted to Oslo University Hospital Ullevål within 24 h after injury, with Injury Severity Score ≥ 10, proximal penetrating injuries, or received by trauma team, were studied. Original NORMIT coefficients were updated in a derivation dataset (NORMIT 2; n = 5923; 2005–2009). TRISS, TARN and NORMIT prediction models were evaluated in the validation dataset (n = 6348; 2010–2013) using two different AIS editions for injury coding. Exclusion due to missing data was 0.26%. Outcome was 30‐day mortality. Validation included AUROC, scaled Brier statistics, and calibration plots.

Results

The NORMIT models had significantly better discrimination, calibration, and overall fit than the TRISS 09, TARN 09 and TARN 12 models. The updated NORMIT 2 had higher numerical values of AUROC and scaled Brier than the original NORMIT, but with overlapping 95%CI. Overlapping 95%CI for AUROCs and Discrimination slopes indicated that the TARN and TRISS models performed similarly. Calibration plots showed tight and consistent predictions over all Ps strata for NORMIT 2 run on AIS'98 coded data, and only little deterioration when AIS'08 data was substituted.

Conclusions

In a Norwegian trauma population, the updated Norwegian survival prediction model in trauma (NORMIT 2) performed better than well‐established British and US alternatives. External validation of these three models in other Nordic populations is warranted.

Evaluation of the Revised Trauma Score in Predicting Outcomes of Trauma Patients

Introduction

The revised trauma score (RTS) was developed more than 20 years ago. Few studies investigated its usefulness in predicting trauma outcomes. This is especially true for the weighted version of RTS (RTS-w). The aim of this study was to test the predicting power of RTS-w for the trauma outcomes including mortality, admission to intensive care unit (ICU), hospital length of stay and ICU length of stay through a comparison with Injury Severity Score (ISS).

Methods

Descriptive data, variables related to the trauma scores and outcomes were collected. The statistical performance of RTS-w and ISS in predicting the trauma outcomes using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) with 95% confidence interval and p value were calculated. The Hosmer-Lemeshow chi-squared statistic was performed to measure its calibration.

Results

A total of 3323 patients were enrolled in the study. RTS-w was significantly better than ISS in predicting mortality of trauma patients (AUC: 0.934 vs.0.880, p<0.0001). However, for the other three outcomes, i.e. admission to ICU, hospital length of stay and intensive care unit length of stay, the performance of RTS-w was inferior to ISS.

Conclusions

The RTS-w is a better predictor of mortality than ISS. But its ability to predict other trauma outcomes is not as good as ISS. More studies are needed to identify the predictive ability of RTS-w for the outcomes other than mortality. Besides, updating the coefficients of the formula may make RTS-w more accurate.

Mobile health technology transforms injury severity scoring in South Africa

BACKGROUND

The burden of data collection associated with injury severity scoring has limited its application in areas of the world with the highest incidence of trauma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Since January 2014, electronic records (electronic Trauma Health Records [eTHRs]) replaced all handwritten records at the Groote Schuur Hospital Trauma Unit in South Africa. Data fields required for Glasgow Coma Scale, Revised Trauma Score, Kampala Trauma Score, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score calculations are now prospectively collected. Fifteen months after implementation of eTHR, the injury severity scores were compared as predictors of mortality on three accounts: (1) ability to discriminate (area under receiver operating curve, ROC); (2) ability to calibrate (observed versus expected ratio, O/E); and (3) feasibility of data collection (rate of missing data).

RESULTS

A total of 7460 admissions were recorded by eTHR from April 1, 2014 to July 7, 2015, including 770 severely injured patients (ISS > 15) and 950 operations. The mean age was 33.3 y (range 13-94), 77.6% were male, and the mechanism of injury was penetrating in 39.3% of cases. The cohort experienced a mortality rate of 2.5%. Patient reserve predictors required by the scores were 98.7% complete, physiological injury predictors were 95.1% complete, and anatomic injury predictors were 86.9% complete. The discrimination and calibration of Trauma Score-Injury Severity Score was superior for all admissions (ROC 0.9591 and O/E 1.01) and operatively managed patients (ROC 0.8427 and O/E 0.79). In the severely injured cohort, the discriminatory ability of Revised Trauma Score was superior (ROC 0.8315), but no score provided adequate calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

Emerging mobile health technology enables reliable and sustainable injury severity scoring in a high-volume trauma center in South Africa.

Predictors of mortality in pediatric trauma: experiences of a level 1 trauma center and an assessment of the International Classification Injury Severity Score (ICISS)

OBJECTIVES

Injury severity scoring tools allow systematic comparison of outcomes in trauma research and quality improvement by indexing an expected mortality risk for certain injuries. This study investigated the predictive value of the empirically derived ICD9-derived Injury Severity Score (ICISS) compared to expert consensus-derived scoring systems for trauma mortality in a pediatric population.

METHODS

1935 consecutive trauma patients aged <18 years from 1/2000 to 12/2012 were reviewed. Mechanism of injury (MOI), Injury Severity Score (ISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Trauma Score ISS (TRISS), and ICISS were compared using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operator characteristic analysis.

RESULTS

The population was a median age of 11 ± 6 year, 70 % male, and 76 % blunt injury. Median ISS 13 ± 12 and overall mortality 3.5 %. Independent predictors of mortality were initial hematocrit [odds ratio (OR) 0.83 (0.73-0.95)], HCO3 [OR 0.82 (0.67-0.98)], Glasgow Coma Scale score [OR 0.75 (0.62-0.90)], and ISS [OR 1.10 (1.04-1.15)]. TRISS was superior to ICISS in predicting survival [area under receiver operator curve: 0.992 (0.982-1.000) vs 0.888 (0.838-0.938)].

CONCLUSIONS

ICISS was inferior to existing injury scoring tools at predicting mortality in pediatric trauma patients.

Prediction of intra-hospital mortality after severe trauma: which pre-hospital score is the most accurate?

PURPOSE

Computing trauma scores in the field allows immediate severity assessment for appropriate triage. Two pre-hospital scores can be useful in this context: the Triage-Revised Trauma Score (T-RTS) and the Mechanism, Glasgow, Age and arterial Pressure (MGAP) score. The Trauma Revised Injury Severity Score (TRISS), not applicable in the pre-hospital setting, is the reference score to predict in-hospital mortality after severe trauma. The aim of this study was to compare T-RTS, MGAP and TRISS in a cohort of consecutive patients admitted in the Trauma system of the Northern French Alps(TRENAU).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2009 to 2011, 3260 patients with suspected severe trauma according to the Vittel criteria were included in the TRENAU registry. All data necessary to compute T-RTS, MGAP and TRISS were collected in patients admitted to one level-I, two level-II and ten level-III trauma centers. The primary endpoint was death from any cause during hospital stay. Discriminative power of each score to predict mortality was measured using receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. To test the relevancy of each score for triage, we also tested their sensitivity at usual cut-offs. We expected a sensitivity higher than 95% to limit undertriage.

RESULTS

The TRISS score showed the highest area under the ROC curve (0.95 [CI 95% 0.94-0.97], p<0.01). Pre-hospital MGAP score had significantly higher AUC compared to T-RTS (0.93 [CI 95% 0.91-0.95] vs 0.86 [CI 95% 0.83-0.89], respectively, p<0.01). MGAP score<23 had a sensitivity of 88% to detect mortality. Sensitivities of T-RTS<12 and TRISS<0.91 were 79% and 87%, respectively.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

Pre-hospital calculation of the MGAP score appeared superior to T-RTS score in predicting intra-hospital mortality in a cohort of trauma patients. Although TRISS had the highest AUC, this score can only be available after hospital admission. These findings suggest that the MGAP score could be of interest in the pre-hospital setting to assess patients' severity. However, its lack of sensitivity indicates that MGAP should not replace the decision scheme to direct the most severe patients to level-I trauma center.

Choice of injury scoring system in low- and middle-income countries: Lessons from Mumbai

INTRODUCTION

Injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Effective trauma surveillance is imperative to guide research and quality improvement interventions, so an accurate metric for quantifying injury severity is crucial. The objectives of this study are (1) to assess the feasibility of calculating five injury scoring systems--ISS (injury severity score), RTS (revised trauma score), KTS (Kampala trauma score), MGAP (mechanism, GCS (Glasgow coma score), age, pressure) and GAP (GCS, age, pressure)--with data from a trauma registry in a lower middle-income country and (2) to determine which of these scoring systems most accurately predicts in-hospital mortality in this setting.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of data from an institutional trauma registry in Mumbai, India. Values for each score were calculated when sufficient data were available. Logistic regression was used to compare the correlation between each score and in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

There were sufficient data recorded to calculate ISS in 73% of patients, RTS in 35%, KTS in 35%, MGAP in 88% and GAP in 92%. ISS was the weakest predictor of in-hospital mortality, while RTS, KTS, MGAP and GAP scores all correlated well with in-hospital mortality (area under ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve 0.69 for ISS, 0.85 for RTS, 0.86 for KTS, 0.84 for MGAP, 0.85 for GAP). Respiratory rate measurements, missing in 63% of patients, were a major barrier to calculating RTS and KTS.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the realities of medical practice in low- and middle-income countries, it is reasonable to modify the approach to characterising injury severity to favour simplified injury scoring systems that accurately predict in-hospital mortality despite limitations in trauma registry datasets.

Predictors of hypofibrinogenemia in blunt trauma patients on admission

PURPOSE

Massive bleeding usually leads to critically low levels of clotting factors, including fibrinogen. Although reduced fibrinogen levels correlate with increased mortality, predictors of hypofibrinogenemia have remained poorly understood. We investigated whether findings available on admission can be used as predictors of hypofibrinogenemia.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed serum fibrinogen levels tested on arrival in 290 blunt trauma patients transported to a level I trauma center during a 3-year period. The primary outcome was prehospital predictors for hypofibrinogenemia. Covariates included age, sex, prehospital fluid therapy, prehospital anatomical and physiological scores, time from injury, base excess, and lactate on arrival. All variables with values of p < 0.10 in univariate analysis were included in a multivariate logistic regression model. The relationships between the variables and the 7-day mortality rate were evaluated in a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

Patient's age [odds ratio (OR): 0.97, p < 0.001], Triage Revised Trauma Score (T-RTS) (OR: 0.81, p = 0.003), and prehospital fluid therapy (OR: 2.54, p = 0.01) were detected as independent predictors for hypofibrinogenemia in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Serum fibrinogen level [hazard ratio (HR): 0.99, p = 0.01] and T-RTS (HR: 0.77, p < 0.01) were associated with the 7-day mortality rate.

CONCLUSION

T-RTS is considered to play an important role in predicting hypofibrinogenemia and 7-day mortality in blunt trauma patients.

Major trauma registry of Navarre (Spain): the accuracy of different survival prediction models

OBJECTIVE

To determine which factors predict death among trauma patients who are alive on arrival at hospital.

METHODS

Design prospective cohort study method. Data were collected on 378 trauma patients who were initially delivered by the emergency medical services of Navarre (Spain) with multiple injuries with a new injury severity score of 15 or more in 2011-2012. These data related to age, gender, presence of premorbid conditions, abbreviated injury score, injury severity score, new injury severity score (NISS), revised trauma score (RTS), and prehospital and hospital response times. Bivariate analysis was used to show the association between each variable and time until death. Mortality prediction was modeled using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The variables related to the end result were the age of the patient, associated comorbidity, NISS, and hospital RTS. Two models were formulated: in one, the variables used were quantitative, while in the other model these variables were converted into dichotomous qualitative variables. The predictive capability of the two models was compared with the trauma and injury severity score using the area under the curve. The predictive capacities of the three models had areas under the curve of 0.93, 0.88, and 0.87. The response times of the Navarre emergency services system, measured as the sum of the time taken to reach the hospital (median time of 65 min), formulate computed tomography (46 min), and perform crucial surgery (115 min), when required, were not taken into account.

CONCLUSION

Age, premorbid conditions, hospital RTS, and NISS are significant predictors of death after trauma. The time intervals between the accident and arrival at the hospital, arrival at the hospital and the first computed tomography scan or the first crucial emergency intervention, do not appear to affect the risk of death.

[Factors associated with the death of motorcyclists in traffic accidents]

In order to identify the factors associated with death among motorcyclists involved in traffic accidents in Maringá - PR, a retrospective study was performed, including motorcyclists involved in accidents in the year 2004. Data were collected from the Military Police records, the Integrated System for Emergency Trauma Care (Sistema Integrado de Atendimento ao Trauma em Emergência -SIATE) and the Institute of Legal Medicine. Bivariate analyses and binary logistical regression were performed. A total of 2,362 motorcyclists were identified in the Police Reports, 1,743 of whom also had records in the Emergency Responders reports. Victims who succumbed to their injuries differed from victims who survived in terms of age, place of residence, time elapsed since obtaining a driver's license, and their physiological condition at the scene of the accident. The following variables were maintained in the final model: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), pulse, and blood oxygen saturation. The physiological conditions of the victims at the scene of the accidents were highlighted in the final model, with GCS surpassing RTS in regards to association with death.

Outcome in polytraumatized patients with and without brain injury

BACKGROUND

To investigate the long-term outcome in polytrauma victims with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and without traumatic brain injury (NTBI).

METHODS

Cohort study based on prospectively collected data. Evaluation of functional outcome and quality of life at least 2 years (median 2.5) following trauma in 111 survivors [39.5 ± 20.9 years; injury severity score (ISS) 27.9 ± 8.2; TBI: n = 45; NTBI: n = 66] out of a total of 211 consecutive multiply-injured patients with an ISS > 16, all primarily admitted to the intensive care unit.

RESULTS

Significantly fewer TBI patients lived independently compared with NTBI patients (71% vs. 95%; P < 0.001). TBI patients showed a higher decrease in their capacity to work compared with NTBI patients (P < 0.002). Both study groups experienced a significantly reduced long-term outcome in comparison with pre-injury level in all dimensions of the short form (SF)-36. Following stepwise logistic regression, the mental sum component of the SF-36 and the Nottingham Health Profile discriminated independently between TBI and NTBI patients (R(2) = 0.219; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

More than 2 years after injury, polytraumatized patients with and without TBI suffer from a reduction in functional outcome and quality of life, but TBI patients are doing importantly worse. Any comparison of trauma patient cohorts should consider these differences between TBI and NTBI patients. Given their discriminatory potential, the sensitivity of self-reported measures needs further affirmation with neuropsychological assessments.

What do prehospital trauma scores predict besides mortality?

BACKGROUND

Little information is available concerning the ability of prehospital triage scores to predict endpoints other than mortality.

METHODS

We evaluated two cohorts (a national cohort of 1,360 patients during 2002 and a single center cohort of 1,003 patients in 2003-2005) of trauma patients receiving care from a prehospital mobile intensive care unit (ICU). We tested the ability of prehospital triage scores (MGAP, Revised Trauma Score [RTS], and triage RTS [T-RTS]) to predict a severe injury, the need for a prolonged ICU period, the occurrence of massive hemorrhage, and the need for emergency procedures, and compared them with a reference score (Trauma-Related Injury Severity Score [TRISS]). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC(ROC)) curves were measured.

RESULTS

The MGAP, RTS, and T-RTS scores were able to predict an Injury Severity Score >15 (AUC(ROC): 0.75, 0.75, and 0.74, respectively), the need for a stay in ICU >2 days or death (AUC(ROC) of 0.85, 0.83, and 0.83, respectively), and the massive hemorrhage (AUC(ROC): 0.70, 0.72, and 0.73, respectively). In contrast, MGAP, RTS, T-RTS, and TRISS scores were not predictors of the need of an emergency procedure (AUC(ROC): 0.53, 0.51, and 0.52, respectively). Four independent predictors of emergency procedure were noted: penetrating trauma, intravenous colloid administration >750 mL, systolic arterial blood pressure <100 mm Hg, and heart rate >100 bpm.

CONCLUSION

Prehospital triage scores were predictors of Injury Severity Score >15, prolonged ICU stay, and massive hemorrhage but not of emergency procedure requirement.

The motor component does not convey all the mortality prediction capacity of the Glasgow Coma Scale in trauma patients

PURPOSE

We tested the hypothesis that the motor component of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) conveys most of the predictive information of triage scores (Triage Revised Trauma Score [T-RTS] and the Mechanism, GCS, Age, arterial Pressure score [MGAP]) in trauma patients.

METHOD

We conducted a multicenter prospective observational study and evaluated 1690 trauma patients in 14 centers. We compared the GCS, T-RTS, MGAP, and Trauma Related Injury Severity Score (reference standard) using the full GCS or its motor component only using logistic regression model, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and reclassification technique.

RESULTS

Although some changes were noted for the GCS itself and the Trauma Related Injury Severity Score, no significant change was observed using the motor component only for T-RTS and MGAP when considering (1) the odds ratio of variables included in the logistic model as well as their discrimination and calibration characteristics, (2) the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.827 ± 0.014 vs 0.831 ± 0.014, P = .31 and 0.863 ± 0.011 vs 0.859 ± 0.012, P = .23, respectively), and (3) the reclassification technique. Although the mortality rate remained less than the predetermined threshold of 5% in the low-risk stratum, it slightly increased for MGAP (from 1.9% to 3.9%, P = .048).

CONCLUSION

The use of the motor component only of the GCS did not change the global performance of triage scores in trauma patients. However, because a subtle increase in mortality rate was observed in the low-risk stratum for MGAP, replacing the GCS by its motor component may not be recommended in every situation.

Revised trauma scoring system to predict in-hospital mortality in the emergency department: Glasgow Coma Scale, Age, and Systolic Blood Pressure score

INTRODUCTION

Our aim in this study was to assess whether the new Glasgow Coma Scale, Age, and Systolic Blood Pressure (GAP) scoring system, which is a modification of the Mechanism, Glasgow Coma Scale, Age, and Arterial Pressure (MGAP) scoring system, better predicts in-hospital mortality and can be applied more easily than previous trauma scores among trauma patients in the emergency department (ED).

METHODS

This multicenter, prospective, observational study was conducted to analyze readily available variables in the ED, which are associated with mortality rates among trauma patients. The data used in this study were derived from the Japan Trauma Data Bank (JTDB), which consists of 114 major emergency hospitals in Japan. A total of 35,732 trauma patients in the JTDB from 2004 to 2009 who were 15 years of age or older were eligible for inclusion in the study. Of these patients, 27,154 (76%) with complete sets of important data (patient age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, systolic blood pressure (SBP), respiratory rate and Injury Severity Score (ISS)) were included in our analysis. We calculated weight for the predictors of the GAP scores on the basis of the records of 13,463 trauma patients in a derivation data set determined by using logistic regression. Scores derived from four existing scoring systems (Revised Trauma Score, Triage Revised Trauma Score, Trauma and Injury Severity Score and MGAP score) were calibrated using logistic regression models that fit in the derivation set. The GAP scoring system was compared to the calibrated scoring systems with data from a total of 13,691 patients in a validation data set using c-statistics and reclassification tables with three defined risk groups based on a previous publication: low risk (mortality < 5%), intermediate risk, and high risk (mortality > 50%).

RESULTS

Calculated GAP scores involved GCS score (from three to fifteen points), patient age < 60 years (three points) and SBP (> 120 mmHg, six points; 60 to 120 mmHg, four points). The c-statistics for the GAP scores (0.933 for long-term mortality and 0.965 for short-term mortality) were better than or comparable to the trauma scores calculated using other scales. Compared with existing instruments, our reclassification tables show that the GAP scoring system reclassified all patients except one in the correct direction. In most cases, the observed incidence of death in patients who were reclassified matched what would have been predicted by the GAP scoring system.

CONCLUSIONS

The GAP scoring system can predict in-hospital mortality more accurately than the previously developed trauma scoring systems.

The role of trauma scoring in developing trauma clinical governance in the Defence Medical Services

This paper discusses mathematical models of expressing severity of injury and probability of survival following trauma and their use in establishing clinical governance of a trauma system. There are five sections: (i) Historical overview of scoring systems--anatomical, physiological and combined systems and the advantages and disadvantages of each. (ii) Definitions used in official statistics--definitions of 'killed in action' and other categories and the importance of casualty reporting rates and comparison across conflicts and nationalities. (iii) Current scoring systems and clinical governance--clinical governance of the trauma system in the Defence Medical Services (DMS) by using trauma scoring models to analyse injury and clinical patterns. (iv) Unexpected outcomes--unexpected outcomes focus clinical governance tools. Unexpected survivors signify good practice to be promulgated. Unexpected deaths pick up areas of weakness to be addressed. Seventy-five clinically validated unexpected survivors were identified over 2 years during contemporary combat operations. (v) Future developments--can the trauma scoring methods be improved? Trauma scoring systems use linear approaches and have significant weaknesses. Trauma and its treatment is a complex system. Nonlinear methods need to be investigated to determine whether these will produce a better approach to the analysis of the survival from major trauma.

Prognostic models for the early care of trauma patients: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Early identification of major trauma may contribute to timely emergency care and rapid transport to an appropriate health-care facility. Several prognostic trauma models have been developed to improve early clinical decision-making.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed models for the early care of trauma patients that included 2 or more predictors obtained from the evaluation of an adult trauma victim, investigated their quality and described their characteristics.

RESULTS

We screened 4,939 records for eligibility and included 5 studies that derivate 5 prognostic models and 9 studies that validate one or more of these models in external populations. All prognostic models intended to change clinical practice, but none were tested in a randomised clinical trial. The variables and outcomes were valid, but only one model was derived in a low-income population. Systolic blood pressure and level of consciousness were applied as predictors in all models.

CONCLUSIONS

The general impression is that the models perform well in predicting survival. However, there are many areas for improvement, including model development, handling of missing data, analysis of continuous measures, impact and practicality analysis.

The Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) revised

BACKGROUND

The Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) remains the most commonly used tool for benchmarking trauma fatality outcome. Recently, it was demonstrated that the predictive power of TRISS could be substantially improved by re-classifying the component variables and treating the variable categories nominally. This study aims to develop revised TRISS models using re-classified variables, to assess these models’ predictive performances against existing TRISS models, and to identify and recommend a preferred TRISS model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Revised TRISS models for blunt and penetrating injury mechanism were developed on an adult (aged 15 years) sample from the National Trauma Data Bank National Sample Project (NSP), using 5-category variable classifications and weighted logistic regression. Their predictive performances were then assessed against existing TRISS models on the unweighted NSP, National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB), and New Zealand Database (NZDB) samples using area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) statistics.

RESULTS

The weighted NSP sample included 1,124,001 adults with blunt or penetrating injury mechanism events and known discharge status, of whom 1,061,709 (94.5%) survived to discharge. Complete information for all TRISS variables was available for 896,212 (79.7%). Revised TRISS models that included main-effects and two-factor interaction terms had superior AUC and BIC statistics to main effects models and existing TRISS models for patients with complete data in NSP, NTDB and NZDB samples. Predictive performance decreased as the number of variables with missing values included within revised TRISS models increased, but model performances generally remained superior to existing TRISS models.

DISCUSSION

Revised TRISS models had importantly improved predictive capacities over existing TRISS models. Additionally, they were easily computed, utilised only those variables already collected for existing TRISS models, and could be applied and produce meaningful survival probabilities when one or more of the predictor variables contained missing values. The preferred revised TRISS model included main-effects and two-factor interaction terms and allowed for missing values in all predictor variables. A strong case exists for replacing existing TRISS models in trauma scoring systems benchmarking software with this preferred revised TRISS model.

Are all trauma centers created equally? A statewide analysis

OBJECTIVES

Prior work has shown differences in mortality at different levels of trauma centers (TCs). There are limited data comparing mortality of equivalently verified TCs. This study sought to assess the potential differences in mortality as well as discharge destination (discharge to home vs. to a rehabilitation center or skilled nursing facility) across Level I TCs in the state of Ohio.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, multicenter, statewide analysis of a state trauma registry of American College of Surgeons (ACS)-verified Level I TCs from 2003 to 2006. All adult (>15 years) patients transferred from the scene to one of the 10 Level I TCs throughout the state were included (n = 16,849). Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to assess for differences in mortality, keeping each TC as a fixed-effect term and adjusting for patient demographics, injury severity, mechanism of injury, and emergency medical services and emergency department procedures. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality and discharge destination (home vs. rehabilitation center or skilled nursing facility). Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for each TC were also calculated.

RESULTS

Considerable variability existed in unadjusted mortality between the centers, from 3.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.7% to 3.9%) to 24.2% (95% CI = 24.1% to 24.3%), despite similar patient characteristics and injury severity. Adjusted mortality had similar variability as well, ranging from an OR of 0.93 (95% CI = 0.47 to 1.84) to an OR of 6.02 (95% CI= 3.70 to 9.79). Similar results were seen with the secondary outcomes (discharge destination).

CONCLUSIONS

There is considerable variability in the mortality of injured patients at Level I TCs in the state of Ohio. The patient differences or care processes responsible for this variation should be explored.

Factors associated with reduced longer-term capacity to work in patients after polytrauma: a Swiss trauma center experience

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of the factors associated with longer-term reduced capacity to work (RCW) is lacking in patients after polytrauma.

STUDY DESIGN

We studied a prospectively collected cohort of polytrauma survivors (n = 115; age 39.5 +/- 20.6 years [mean +/- SD]; 98% blunt trauma; Injury Severity Score [ISS] 27.5 +/- 8.2) at a university trauma center. Uni- and multivariable analyses of patient, trauma, and treatment characteristics as well as parameters of self-reported functional outcomes were studied to determine their association with a reduced capacity to work (RCW) at least 2 years after injury.

RESULTS

Postinjury quality of life was worse compared with preinjury status in univariate analysis (eg, Euro Quality of Life Group Visual Analogue Scale [EQ VAS] 66.2 +/- 24.4 vs 89.7 +/- 14.7; p = <0.001). In 53% of patients (n = 61), an RCW was found and functional outcomes were significantly lower than those in non-RCW patients (p < 0.001). Lower educational status (odds ratio [OR] 0.25; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.92; p = 0.036), higher ISS (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.22; p = 0.017), less time in the emergency room (OR 0.92; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.97; p = 0.005), higher mean nurse labor per day and patient (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.000 to 1.004; p = 0.033), and a reduced Nottingham Health Profile value (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.15; p < 0.001) were associated with an RCW in the multiple logistic regression model (proportion of variance explained: 0.74).

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of patients surviving polytrauma, approximately 50% of patients sustained longer-term RCW. Several characteristics, such as level of education or trauma severity, showed an independent association with patients' capacity to work, which was significantly associated with patients' self-rated scorings of well-being.

Mechanism, glasgow coma scale, age, and arterial pressure (MGAP): a new simple prehospital triage score to predict mortality in trauma patients

OBJECTIVES

Prehospital triage of trauma patients is of paramount importance because adequate trauma center referral improves survival. We developed a simple score that is easy to calculate in the prehospital phase.

DESIGN

Multicenter prospective observational study.

SETTING

Prehospital physician-staffed emergency system in university and nonuniversity hospitals.

INTERVENTIONS

We evaluated 1360 trauma patients receiving care from a prehospital mobile intensive care unit in 22 centers in France during 2002. The association of prehospital variables with in-hospital death was tested using logistic regression, and a simple score (the Mechanism, Glasgow coma scale, Age, and Arterial Pressure [MGAP] score) was created and compared with the triage Revised Trauma Score, Revised Trauma Score, and Trauma Related Injury Severity Score. The model was validated in 1003 patients from 2003 through 2005.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Four independent variables were identified, and each was assigned a number of points proportional to its regression coefficient to provide the MGAP score: Glasgow Coma Scale (from 3-15 points), blunt trauma (4 points), systolic arterial blood pressure (>120 mm Hg: 5 points, 60 to 120 mm Hg: 3 points), and age <60 yrs (5 points). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of MGAP was not significantly different from that of the triage Revised Trauma Score or Revised Trauma Score, but when sensitivity was fixed >0.95 (undertriage of 0.05), the MGAP score was more specific and accurate than triage Revised Trauma Score and Revised Trauma Score, approaching those of Trauma Related Injury Severity Score. We defined three risk groups: low (23-29 points), intermediate (18-22 points), and high risk (<18 points). In the derivation cohort, the mortality was 2.8%, 15%, and 48%, respectively. Comparable characteristics of the MGAP score were observed in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSION

The MGAP score can accurately predict in-hospital death in trauma patients.

Revisiting the validity of APACHE II in the trauma ICU: improved risk stratification in critically injured adults

BACKGROUND

Quality and benchmarking initiatives highlight the need for accurate stratified risk adjustment. The stratification of trauma patients has relied on scores specific to trauma populations. While the Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score has been considered "invalid" in the trauma population, we hypothesized that APAHCE II would more accurately predict outcomes in critically injured patients in whom commonly used trauma scores have inherent limitations.

METHODS

A prospective cohort of critically injured patients was enrolled. Severity scores and their sub-components were collected, and in-hospital mortality was assessed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was used to determine the predictive value of each score. Logistic regression estimated the odds of death associated with incremental changes in severity scores and their subcomponents.

RESULTS

1019 patients were available for analysis. APACHE II was the best predictor of mortality (AUROC 0.77 versus AUROC 0.54 for ISS and 0.64 for TRISS). A unit increase in APACHE II was associated with an OR of death of 1.18 (95% CI 1.14-1.22). The components of APACHE II that contributed the most to its accuracy included temperature, serum creatinine and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).

CONCLUSION

Critically injured patients have physiologic derangements not accurately accounted for by commonly used trauma scores. In this subset a more general ICU scoring system is useful for risk adjustment for research, administrative and quality improvement purposes.