title: A prospective evaluation of field categorization of trauma patients.
abstract: We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of comprehensive field triage in 8,891 trauma patients transported to trauma centers in Dade County, Florida, over a 1-year period ending in September 1986. There were 5,685 males (63.9%) and 3,206 females (36.1%) with a mean age of 32.4 +/- 18.4 years. The overall accuracy for identifying severe injury for the entire group was 30.2%. A Trauma Score less than or equal to 12 was the most accurate predictor of severe injury. Of 669 patients in this group, 617 (92.2%) sustained severe injury and 361 died (54.0%). High-speed (greater than 40 m.p.h.) motor vehicle accident was the most common reason for triage; however, of 2,277 in this group 201 patients (9.0%) had severe injury and four patients (0.2%) died. Only nine deaths (0.9%) occurred in 1,004 patients with penetrating trauma whose Trauma Scores were greater than 12. Of the 8,891 patients 4,791 (53.9%) had moderate to severe injury. The overtriage rate was therefore 46.1% using this field categorization system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma Services, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, Florida.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kreis
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eckes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Whitwell
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Byers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014218:Triage; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification* / Q000401:mortality