Relationship between serum glucose and injury severity score in childhood trauma.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between initial serum glucose and injury severity score (ISS) in children with multiple trauma.


METHODS
Charts from all patients 0 to 19 years of age admitted to a children's hospital in 1995 with acute multiple trauma were reviewed. Data collected included initial serum glucose level, heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), Injury Severity Score (ISS), age, gender, location of trauma, and need for intravenous fluids or epinephrine. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression.


RESULTS
A total of 185 charts were reviewed. The mean ISS was 11.3; the mean glucose was 162.8 mg/dL. After adjusting for age, gender, HR, SBP, and administration of epinephrine or fluid bolus, a significant direct relationship between serum glucose and ISS was found (r = 0.52, P < .01). A stronger relationship was found in children less than 2 years old (r = 0.60, P = .04).


CONCLUSIONS
A significant direct relationship exists between glucose and ISS in children with multiple trauma. High glucose values may indicate more severe injury, especially in children less than 2 years old.
Pomerantz
W J
WJ
Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio 45229, USA.
Hashkes
P J
PJ
Succop
P A
PA
Dowd
M D
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose