A system for measuring the severity of temporary and permanent disability after injury

500 patients have been questioned about activities of daily living and mobility 4 and 26 weeks after injury in order to assess the extent of temporary and permanent disability following minor and major trauma. Only those who sustained single injuries have been assessed, resulting in a relatively small number of serious injuries in the sample. In other respects, the population is representative of the daytime attendance at a busy emergency department. Most patients sustained injuries with an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) of 1 or 2 (96%); it is clear that the AIS is unable to distinguish between most small injuries. Assessment was by interview. Although subjective, this has produced results that have face validity and discriminate between a wide variety of injuries. The methodology may be useful in the development of a "disability score," but much more data will be required before this can be achieved.