An initial assessment tool to predict the degree of injury severity on pediatric patient and the necessity of care at pediatric trauma center. The assessment elements are as follow: - Weight ( >20 kg or 44 lbs:- 2 points, 10-20 kg or 22 - 44 lbs: 1 point, and <10 kg or 22 lbs: -1 point) - Airway status (normal: 2 points, maintainable: 1 point, unmaintainable: -1 point) - Systolic blood pressure (>90 mmHg: 2 points, 50-90 mmHg: 1 point, <50 mmHg: -1 point) - Central nervous system (awake: 2 points, obtunded/loss of consciousness: 1 point, coma/decerebrate:-1 point) - Skeletal injury (none: 2 points, closed fracture: 1 point, unmaintainable: -1 point) - Cutaneous wounds (none: 2 points, minor: 1 point, major/penetrating:-1 point) In the absence of a proper-sized blood pressure cuff, the blood pressure assessment could be substituted with an assessment based on pulse (pulse palpable at wrist: 2 points, pulse palpable at groin: 1 point, no pulse palpable: -1 point) The total score is the summation of points from every element, ranging from -6 to 12. A Pediatric Trauma score <=8 is considered as life-threatening and requires transfer to a pediatric trauma center or highest level of care available in the area. On the other hand, score >8 is considered to be less life-threatening and thus can be treated at the receiving facility while also performing further assessment on the patient's condition.
To perform an initial assessment of pediatric patients presenting with trauma or injury and determining the necessity of transfer to a pediatric trauma center.
Used for the initial assessment in pediatric patients (<18 year-of-age) presenting with trauma. Also to help triage patients on the necessity of transferring to a pediatric trauma center.
- Not recommended for blunt abdominal trauma cases - Not to be used in isolated injury cases
1. Tepas JJ, Mollitt DL, Talbert JL, Bryant M. The pediatric trauma score as a predictor of injury severity in the injured child. J Pediatr Surg. 1987;22(1):14-8. 2. Tepas JJ, Ramenofsky ML, Mollitt DL, Gans BM, Discala C. The Pediatric Trauma Score as a predictor of injury severity: an objective assessment. J Trauma. 1988;28(4):425-9. 3. Ramenofsky ML, Ramenofsky MB, Jurkovich GJ, Threadgill D, Dierking BH, Powell RW. The predictive validity of the Pediatric Trauma Score. J Trauma. 1988;28(7):1038-42.
openEHR-EHR-OBSERVATION.pediatric_trauma_score, openEHR-EHR-EVALUATION.pediatric_trauma_score
