Evaluation of revised trauma score in polytraumatized patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prognostic value and reliability of revised trauma score (RTS) in polytraumatized patients.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
The study was conducted at Nishtar Hospital Multan From August 1999 to January 2001.


METHODS
Thirty adult patients of road traffic accidents sustaining multisystem injuries due to high energy blunt trauma were managed according to the protocols of advanced trauma life support (ATLS) and from their first set of data RTS was calculated. Score of each patient was compared with his final outcome at the time of discharge from the hospital.


RESULTS
The revised trauma score was found to be a reliable predictor of prognosis of polytraumatized patients but a potentially weak predictor for those patients having severe injury involving a single anatomical region. The higher the RTS the better the prognosis of polytrauma patient and vice versa. Revised trauma score < 8 turned out to be an indicator of severe injury with high mortality and morbidity and overall mortality in polytraumatized patients was 26.66%. However, RTS-6 was associated with 50% mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
The revised trauma score is a reliable indicator of prognosis of polytraumatized patients. Therefore, it can be used for field and emergency room triage.
Ahmad
Hafiz Naweed
HN
Department of Surgery, Islamic International Medical College, Railway Hospital, Westridge, Rawalpindi. naweed_a@yahoo.com
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology