Trauma Outcome Scores with Mark Faulkner

In this conversation, we will examine the various types of trauma
scores that feature both out-of-hospital and in-hospital to
measure trauma – those of anatomical, physiological and combined
trauma scores. We will look at why these are important, the three
broad types of trauma scores, the origins, reliability and
sensitivity of these. We will also examine the pros and cons of
the GCS together with the history behind the GCS. We will examine
the trauma score, revised trauma score, APACHE and CRAMS scales,
Abbreviated Injury Score, Injury severity score, New Injury
Severity Score (NISS), TRISS (Trauma and Injury Severity Score),
and finally the ASCOT (A Severity characterisation of trauma). We
will also examine the limitations to these scores and also some
of the more long-term reasons for use. 





Mark Faulkner is a Consultant Paramedic and associate medical
director with the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Mark is
also the clinical advisor for Major Trauma within the LAS and as
such sits on the Pan London Trauma Steering Group, as well as
number of national trauma groups.  Mark has been involved in
major trauma for over 12 years, since the inception of the London
Trauma System and has developed and refined the London Trauma
Triage Tool. In the conversation, we examine:





1.     Why we look at and create these
scores.


2.     The three broad types 


3.     The GCS – origins,
sensitivity/specificity & the limitations  


4.     Trauma Score & revised trauma
score 


5.     APACHE & CRAMS scales 


6.     AIS 


7.     ISS


8.     NISS & TRISS score 


9.     ASCOT 


10.  Final thoughts 





My thanks to Mark for an insightful and engaging conversation.