The lack of full correlation between the Injury Severity Score and the resource needs of injured patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the Injury Severity Score (ISS) correlates with the resource requirements of severely injured patients by studying the association of the ISS with three major interventions (fluid resuscitation, invasive central nervous system monitoring, and acute operative repair) trauma centers routinely provide severely injured patients.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical review.


METHODS
Level I trauma center.


METHODS
Eight hundred fourteen adult injured patients.


RESULTS
When an ISS of more than 9 was used as the definition of major trauma, the ISS undercorrelated 11% of the time with the need for any one procedure. When an ISS of more than 14 was used as the definition, it undercorrelated 20% of the time.


CONCLUSIONS
The ISS may not be completely correlated with the resource requirements of injured patients and should not be used as the sole means by which to define major injury.
Baxt
W G
WG
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, Medical Center 92103-1990.
Upenieks
V
V
D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012151:Resuscitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy