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Pediatric Trauma Score. Predictor of hospital resource use?
C Aprahamian1, R P Cattey, A P Walker
1Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
Insights
The Pediatric Trauma Score effectively identifies children needing specialized care, correlating with the Injury Severity Score. This score aids in directing pediatric trauma patients to appropriate trauma facilities for optimal treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- The Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) is recommended for triaging pediatric trauma patients to Level 1 centers.
- The Injury Severity Score (ISS) is a validated measure of trauma severity.
- Effective triage is crucial for optimizing outcomes in pediatric trauma care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the correlation between the Pediatric Trauma Score and the Injury Severity Score in a real-world paramedic setting.
- To assess the utility of the Pediatric Trauma Score in guiding transport decisions for pediatric trauma patients.
- To explore the potential of the Pediatric Trauma Score in predicting hospital resource utilization.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 983 pediatric trauma patients (≤17 years) over 36 months.
- Paramedic data collection including advanced life support interventions and transport destinations.
- Correlation analysis between Pediatric Trauma Score and Injury Severity Score.
Main Results:
- A strong correlation was confirmed between the Pediatric Trauma Score and the Injury Severity Score.
- The study supports the recommendation to transport patients with a Pediatric Trauma Score of 8 or less to trauma facilities.
- Paramedics provided advanced life support to 20% of pediatric trauma patients, with 144 transported to trauma centers.
Conclusions:
- The Pediatric Trauma Score is a reliable tool for triaging pediatric trauma patients.
- Transporting patients with a Pediatric Trauma Score ≤8 to trauma facilities is supported by the findings.
- Pediatric Trauma Scores may assist in predicting hospital resource needs for pediatric trauma cases.
Abstract:
The Pediatric Trauma Score has been recommended to triage children with scores of 8 or less to a level 1 pediatric trauma center. The Injury Severity Score correlates well with the Pediatric Trauma Score. During a 36-month period ending December 31, 1985, paramedics saw 983 pediatric trauma patients (aged 17 years and younger) and intervened with advanced life support procedures in 196 (20%). One hundred forty-four patients receiving advanced life support were transported to either a level 1 adult trauma center or a pediatric community hospital. Our data confirm the correlation between Pediatric Trauma Score and Injury Severity Score and support recommendations to transport patients with Pediatric Trauma Scores of 8 or less to trauma facilities. We also conclude that Pediatric Trauma Scores may be useful in predicting hospital resource use.