Citation

Ahmad HN. J. Coll. Physicians Surg. Pak. 2004; 14(5): 286-289.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, Islamic International Medical College, Railway Hospital, Westridge, Rawalpindi. naweed_a@yahoo.com

Comment In:

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2004;14(10):644; author reply 644

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan)

DOI

05.2004/JCPSP.286289

PMID

15225457

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic value and reliability of revised trauma score (RTS) in polytraumatized patients. DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The study was conducted at Nishtar Hospital Multan From August 1999 to January 2001. SUBJECTS AND 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. CONCLUSION: The revised trauma score is a reliable indicator of prognosis of polytraumatized patients. Therefore, it can be used for field and emergency room triage.

Language: en