Open AccessMultiple injuries in peacetime and wartime estimate of severity of injury by the injury severity score and polytraumaschlüssel
Author(s) -
Korać Želimir,
Krajačić Ivan,
Hančević Janko,
Marušić Zrinka
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
european journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1741-9271
pISSN - 1102-4151
DOI - 10.1080/110241598750005642
Subject(s) - peacetime , medicine , injury severity score , injury prevention , occupational safety and health , poison control , abbreviated injury scale , surgery , emergency medicine , archaeology , pathology , history
Objective: To compare the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and Polytraumaschlüssel (PTS) in patients with multiple peacetime and wartime injuries. Design: Prospective and retrospective study. Setting: General hospital, Croatia. Subjects: 71 patients with multiple injuries admitted between 1 January 1993 and 30 September 1994; 41 had peacetime (road traffic accident) injuries and 30 had been injured in battle. Interventions: ISS and PTS scores. Main outcome measure: Correlation of scores with morbidity and mortality. Results: All patients with wartime injuries were men, compared with 30/41 (73%) of those with peacetime injuries ( p < 0.0001). Those with wartime injuries were slightly but not significant younger (mean 35 years, range 17–69, compared with 44 years, range 17–87). Mortality was higher among those with peacetime injuries, but not significantly so (11/41 compared with 5/30, p = 0.39). The two scores correlated well for all injuries ( r = 0.76), and peacetime ( r = 0.71) and wartime injuries ( r = 0.84) separately (all correlations p < 0.0001). In both groups, patients who subsequently died scored significantly higher with both scores ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: The two scores were equally good at describing the severity of injury, and the likelihood of subsequent death, however the injuries were caused. Copyright © 1998 Taylor and Francis Ltd.