ABSTRACT
In the clinical setting, injury scoring systems are used to evaluate and improve patient assessment, treatment and outcomes by using a standardised terminology to describe trauma. Trauma scoring systems are also important in epidemiological research, where patterns and causes of injury can be analysed in specific populations in order to monitor trends in injury causation and to develop injury prevention programmes. In the military, injury scoring systems are used in a number of applications analogous to civilian trauma injury data. Injury classification using localisers can provide more detailed information on the injury, while cause of injury (COI) codes can be documented to identify mechanisms. In the pre-hospital setting, a Trauma Triage Tool or 'Field Triage Decision' is required in order for a rapid accurate assessment and to determine the level of physiological derangement. The major trauma criteria (MIST) are used to ascertain patient risk for serious injury and hence transport decision and destination.
