EVALUATION OF THORACIC TRAUMA SEVERITY SCORE IN PREDICTING THE OUTCOME OF ISOLATED BLUNT CHEST TRAUMA PATIENTS

Background: Chest trauma is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity, especially in the younger population. Injuries to the thorax are the third most common injuries in trauma patients, next to injuries to the head and extremities. Outcome and prognosis for the great majority of patients with chest trauma are excellent. There are many predictors of mortality in chest trauma patients however; the present standards for assessing thoracic trauma vary widely. For this in 2000 Pape et al developed the Thoracic Trauma Severity Score (TTSS), which combines the patient's age, resuscitation parameters, and radiological assessment of the thorax. Aim of this study: was to assess the validity if any; of the Thorax trauma severity score and its ability to predict mortality in blunt chest trauma patients. Methodology: this was a cross sectional study, the study included 30 patients. Results: the (TTSS) was found to be a good predictor for mortality among the studied patients on initial evaluation; with a score larger than (7), the score is 100% sensitive and 100% specific for prediction of poor outcome (Death and ICU admission) versus good outcome (Discharge from ER and inpatient admission) with 100% positive predictive value and 100% negative predictive value. Conclusion: This study supports the use of the TTSS for predicting mortality in thoracic injury patients, as higher scores were associated with higher mortality and morbidity.