A Critical Appraisal of the Revised Trauma Score

Abstract

Objectives The trauma score and its later revision were developed as a triage index which could be readily calculated and interpreted in the prehospital environment. This paper aims to critically examine the available literature to determine if the Revised Trauma Score actually measures what it is intended to measure. Methods A thorough Medline literature search was undertaken of the OVID database. All available journal articles which addressed reliability and validity testing of the Revised Trauma Score were reviewed. Each of the instrument's clinimetric properties are described and critically appraised. Conclusion As a predictive instrument, the Revised Trauma Score has been shown to have a moderate to high ability to accurately predict survival. In its secondary role discrimination, it has been shown to have equivocal ‘between-person’ sensitivity.