Diagnostic value of the Glasgow Coma Scale for traumatic brain injury in 18,002 patients with severe multiple injuries.

摘要

Although patients with severe multiple injuries may have other reasons for unconsciousness, traumatic brain injury (TBI) in these patients is frequently defined by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Nevertheless, the diagnostic value of GCS for severe TBI in the multiple-injured patient is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the diagnostic value of GCS to identify severe TBI in multiple-injured patients. The records of 18,002 severely injured adult (ISS >16) patients from the Trauma Register of the German Society for Trauma Surgery were analyzed and initial GCS and Abbreviated Injury Scale (head) (AIS(head)) were recorded. A severe TBI was defined by an AIS(head) >/= 3. On the other hand, unconsciousness was defined by an initial GCS /= 3). The diagnostic value of GCS /= 3 to define severe TBI in patients with multiple injuries.