Do trauma scores accurately predict outcomes for patients with burns?

A highly refined quality assurance program relies on accurate outcome evaluations and the identification of patients who are truly worthy of peer review. In our hospital, the Glasgow Coma Score, the Trauma Score, and the Injury Severity Score are used to monitor patients with burns. A retrospective review of 511 admitted patients with burns was performed to determine whether the existing monitors (Trauma Score, Glasgow Coma Score, Injury Severity Score) or the use of the Baux Score, the Edlich Burn Score, and the Zawacki Score would provide a more precise monitoring system. Logistic regression techniques demonstrated that the Baux Score, the Edlich Burn Score, and the Zawacki Score were highly correlated with patient outcome (p less than 0.001). Linear regression techniques demonstrated that only the Baux Score, the Edlich Burn Score, and the Zawacki Score were correlated with length of stay (p less than 0.01). On the basis of this retrospective review, the Baux Score, the Edlich Burn Score, and the Zawacki Score more accurately predicted outcomes for patients with burns than did the Trauma Score, the Injury Severity Score, and the Glasgow Coma Score; these scores can thus provide the most valuable information for quality assurance activities.