Authors' own assessment of TRISS method studies in the treatment of major trauma in children.

UNLABELLED

Evaluation of trauma care must be an integral part of any system designed for the care of seriously injured patients. This study analyses the validity of TRISS methodology in evaluating traumatised children admitted to the ICU.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 586 children with major trauma admitted to the Children's Hospital Zagreb was conducted over a 4-year period. The outcome in each patient was assessed using the Trauma Injury Severity Score (TRISS) system to calculate the probability of survival based on anatomical extent of injury and grade of physiological disturbance at the time of admission.

RESULTS

Mean age was 7.8 years and mortality was 5.5 %. Mean ISS of survivors was 9, Revised Trauma Score (RTS) was 6.6, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 8. Statistical evaluation included TRISS survival analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the predicted and the actual number of children who died (predicted 8.3 % vs. actual 5.5 %).

CONCLUSIONS

This study documents and confirms TRISS methodology as an effective predictor of both severity of injury and potential for mortality in children with major trauma.