Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007; 55(3): 190-195
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-955883
Original Thoracic

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Prognostic Importance of Trauma Scoring Systems for Blunt Thoracic Trauma

H. Esme1 , O. Solak1 , Y. Yurumez2 , Y. Yavuz2 , Y. Terzi3 , M. Sezer4 , H. Kucuker5
  • 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Afyon, Turkey
  • 2Department Emergency Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Afyon, Turkey
  • 3Department of Statistics, Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Art and Science, Afyon, Turkey
  • 4Department of Pulmonary Disease, Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Afyon, Turkey
  • 5Department of Forensic Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine, Afyon, Turkey
Further Information

Publication History

received April 27, 2006

Publication Date:
05 April 2007 (online)

Abstract

Background: Early identification and aggressive management of blunt thoracic trauma are essential to reduce the significant rates of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent predictive value of 5 different trauma scoring systems (Revised Trauma Score [RTS], Trauma and Injury Severity Score [TRISS], Injury Severity Score [ISS], Lung Injury Scale [LIS], and Chest Wall Injury Scale [CWIS]) with respect to prognostic factors such as tube thoracostomy duration, the need for mechanical support and thoracotomy, the length of hospital and ICU stay, morbid conditions, and deaths of patients with blunt thoracic trauma. Methods: The records of 152 patients with blunt thoracic trauma were reviewed and data consisting of the patients' age and gender, blood pressure and respiratory rate on admission, the extent of chest wall and intrathoracic injury, types of associated injuries, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, the need for mechanical support and thoracotomy, tube thoracostomy duration, length of hospital and ICU stay, morbid conditions, and deaths were collected. The relations between the trauma scoring systems and prognostic factors were evaluated by multivariate analysis. Results: The analysis showed that only TRISS was an independent predictor of mortality and only LIS was an independent predictor of morbidity, the need for thoracotomy, and tube thoracostomy duration. TRISS and LIS were independent predictors of the length of ICU stay. ISS, CWIS, and LIS were independent predictors of the need for mechanical support. RTS, TRISS, ISS and LIS were independent predictors of the length of hospital stay. Conclusions: The LIS grade appeared to correlate with the severity of blunt thoracic injury and was found to be the most useful scoring system in predicting the outcomes of these patients.

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MD Hidir Esme

Department of Thoracic Surgery
Afyon Kocatepe University, School of Medicine

Ali Cetinkaya Campus

03200 Afyon

Turkey

Phone: + 90 50 58 12 93 78

Fax: + 90 27 22 13 30 66

Email: hesme@aku.edu.tr