title: The effect of systemic injury score on the decision making of mangled lower extremities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mangled lower extremity with Mangled extremity severity score (MESS) more than 7 are considered unsalvageable. We are looking for a factor helps us predicting the salvage potential in the patient with MESS score between 7 and 9.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the patients with lower extremities open fracture type IIIB or IIIC and received salvaged procedure or amputation in CGMH between 2002/01 and 2010/09. The patients are subgroup according to their MESS score. ISS score, Gustilo open fracture classification were compared between patient with successful salvage and patient with delay amputation. Logistic regression and stepwise modeling were used to determine the effect of each covariate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  242 patients were enrolled in the study. 33 patients had primary amputation, 160 patients had successfully salvaged limbs and 49 patients received delay amputation. Among patients with MESS score less than 7, 116 patients had successful salvage limbs and 7 patients received delay amputation. Among patient with MESS between 7 and 9, 44 patients discharged with salvaged limbs and 39 patients were failed to salvage their limbs. Successful salvaged patients in this group had significant lower ISS score in compare to delay amputated patients. Patients with ISS score more than 18 in this group has higher delay amputated rate (P value=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systemic injury severity score can help us tell potentially salvaged patient from potentially amputated patient. In patients with MESS score between 7 and 9 concurrently have ISS score less then 17 are potentially salvageable. Level of Evidence & Study Type: Level 3 Retrospective cohort study/prognostic study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsuan-Keng
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Te
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taiwan; Chang Gung University, Taiwan. Electronic address: shu3506@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Chung-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D005260:Female; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Delay amputation; Injury severity score; Limb salvage; MESS; Mangled extremity severity score