Measuring trauma severity using the 1998 and 2005 revisions of the Abbreviated Injury Scale

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to compare injury and trauma severity as measured by the 1998 and 2005 revisions of the Abbreviated Injury Scale and to determine the mortality in the Injury Severity Score and the New Injury Severity Score in both versions. Method: This cross-sectional retrospective study analyzed injuries of trauma patients from three university hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil. Each injury was coded using the Abbreviated Injury Scale 1998 and 2005. The statistical tests applied were the Wilcoxon, McNemar-Bowker, Kappa, and Z tests. Results: Comparing the two versions resulted in significant disagreement regarding the scores of certain body regions. With the 2005 version, injury and trauma severity levels were significantly decreased, and the mortality was higher at lower scores. Conclusion: Injury and trauma severity were decreased and the percentage mortality was changed when the 2005 revision of the Abbreviated Injury Scale was used.