Defining the Major Trauma Patient and Trauma Severity.
Publication/Presentation Date
8-1-1991
Abstract
Criteria for defining the major trauma patient have been specified by physicians using Injury Patient Management Categories (PMCs), a computerized classification that can be used effectively with routinely collected discharge abstract data from non-trauma center hospitals as well as trauma centers. These criteria for major trauma not only include the more severe and complex single injuries, but also include criteria for identifying combinations of injuries that require tertiary level care. Major trauma patients identified as tertiary using PMCs are compared with existing and frequently used measures of injury severity such as AIS and ISS. Analyses suggest that the Injury PMCs identify major trauma patients accurately and more specifically than other indicators of severity that are commonly used. In addition, unlike other measures that are generally limited to registries, PMC tertiary patient criteria differentiate major trauma patients at both trauma centers and non-trauma centers without additional data collection. Using this method thus facilitates trauma systems evaluation and patient outcome assessment.
Volume
31
Issue
8
First Page
1125
Last Page
1141
ISSN
0022-5282
Published In/Presented At
Young, W. W., Young, J. C., Smith, J. S., & Rhodes, M. (1991). Defining the major trauma patient and trauma severity. The Journal Of Trauma, 31(8), 1125-1141.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Medical Specialties | Surgery | Trauma
PubMedID
1875440
Department(s)
Department of Surgery, Department of Surgery Residents
Document Type
Article