Scores in polytrauma--do they help?
BACKGROUND
The answer to the question "Scores in polytrauma - do they help ?" is discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
One of the two sections deals with the role of scores used for clinical decision making in individual patients and, in the other, the significance of scores in improving patient care is analyzed.


RESULTS
It is shown that scores may be helpful in both regards. However, certain methodological limitations of scores have to be considered.
Waydhas
C
C
Department of Trauma Surgery, University Clinic, University of Essen, Germany.
Nast-Kolb
D
D
D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000145:classification*