Trauma rehabilitation outcome scoring.
OBJECTIVE
Appropriate measurements of success in trauma systems are evolving. We review the rationale behind prior trauma and rehabilitation outcomes measures, and how they have led to the current rehabilitation tools in use today. In addition, we review the difficulties with current methods and future improvements that need to occur.


RESULTS
As medicine marches toward improved used of clinical evidence, trauma practitioners have worked for improved outcomes research. A major part of this is that outcomes such as functional status and quality of life are as important as mortality statistics. Trauma rehabilitation outcomes are thus more important, yet in the past all such tools have had major impediments to implementation across a heterogeneous trauma population. Newly recognized major domains such as quality of life, preinjury status, patient perceptions, and actual function at work have not been adequately addressed with current rehabilitation measures. At this time, no clinically applicable trauma rehabilitation score exists.


CONCLUSIONS
Trauma rehabilitation outcomes are an important measurement of trauma system effectiveness. A more effective, easily applied rehabilitation score is needed to adequately assess all appropriate domains of clinical improvement in the injured patient.
Horwitz
David A
DA
Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Schuerer
Douglas J E
DJ
D023381:Endpoint Determination; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*