155.
Long-term survival after severe trauma is not affected by Injury
Severity Score (ISS).
Morten Wad, Sidsel Fruergaard, Claus Falck Larsen, Benny Dahl
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Rigshospitalet; Department of
Orthopaedic Surgery, Rigshospitalet; Trauma Center, Rigshospitalet;
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rigshospitalet
Background:
Increasing interest has been directed towards long-term survival
and outcome after severe trauma. There is, however, a paucity of literature
describing these aspects of severe injury and only one previous study has
reported on the long- term survival in Danish trauma patients.
Purpose / Aim of Study:
The purpose of the present study was to assess
whether injury severity affects long-term survival in trauma patients.
Materials and Methods:
From March 1996 to September 1997 all patients
more than 18 years of age, admitted to the emergency department at
Rigshospitalet were prospectively included based on at least one of the
following inclusion criteria: injury to more than one organ system, more than
one fracture of the long bones or the axial skeleton, or fracture of the axial
skeleton combined with another fracture. On discharge or death all diagnosed
lesions were classified according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and the
(
ISS) Injury Severity Score was calculated. Survival status was registered in
May 2012.
Findings / Results:
A total of 153 patients were included. 13 patients had
insufficient personal data leaving 140 patients for analysis. The median age
was 34 years (range 18-87 years) and 66% were men. The one-year mortality
was 23% and the overall mortality was 43%. Only within the first year after
injury the mortality rate in patients with ISS > 24 was significantly higher than
in patients with ISS from 16-24 (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
To our knowledge this is the first time 15 years survival rates
have been reported in Danish trauma patients. The results support previous
findings that ISS only reflects short-term survival after severe injury.
