Correlation of Paediatric Trauma Score, Revised Trauma Score and Injury Severity Score with Length of Hospital Stay in Paediatric Trauma Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Hospital stay is an important aspect of the medical care and most of the times medical professionals face this question at the very beginning when patient is advised indoor treatment. The role of Revised Trauma Score (RTS) and Paediatric Trauma Score (PTS) for initial screening of the trauma patients is very well established. However, there is a lack of data available on the correlation between hospital stay and different score in pediatric trauma patients. Aim: The aim of the present study was to find which trauma score is better for prediction of length of hospital stay in paediatric trauma patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted from January 2013 to December 2013, including Children less than 12 years with history of trauma and who required admission. Patients with burns, drowning, physical abuse were excluded. Data regarding demographics, vital parameters, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), laboratory parameters, number of days required for full recovery were recorded on case record proforma. Rapid respiratory rate of infant and toddler age group were adjusted before calculation of RTS. Revised Abbreviated injury score was used to calculate Injury Severity Score (ISS). The RTS, PTS were calculated based on parameters at admission. ISS was calculated after primary examination, radiological investigations and intraoperative findings. Results: Mean ISS, RTS and PTS for 0-2 days of hospital admission was {(6.19±2.84), (7.59±0.41), (10.60±1.38)}, for 3-4 days it was {(6.72±3.40), (7.58±0.54), (11.03±1.42)} and for ≥5 days it was {(11.19±4.68), (7.69±0.54), (10.67±1.53)} respectively. Conclusion: Length of hospital stay does not depend on physiological parameters on admission. There is a positive correlation between ISS and length of hospital stay. The ISS is a better predictor of length of hospital stay than PTS and RTS.

Keywords

• morbidity
• mortality
• physical abuse