Journal of Trauma and Injury

Original Article

Validation of chest trauma scoring systems in polytrauma: a retrospective study with 1,038 patients in Korea: Hongrye Kim, Mou Seop Lee, Su Young Yoon, Jonghee Han, Jin Young Lee, Junepill Seok; J Trauma Inj. 2024;37(2):114-123. Published online May 9, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2023.0087

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Purpose
Appropriate scoring systems can help classify and treat polytrauma patients. This study aimed to validate chest trauma scoring systems in polytrauma patients.
Methods
Data from 1,038 polytrauma patients were analyzed. The primary outcomes were one or more complications: pneumonia, chest complications requiring surgery, and mortality. The Thoracic Trauma Severity Score (TTSS), Chest Trauma Score, Rib Fracture Score, and RibScore were compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in patients with or without head trauma.
Results
In total, 1,038 patients were divided into two groups: those with complications (822 patients, 79.2%) and those with no complications (216 patients, 20.8%). Sex and body mass index did not significantly differ between the groups. However, age was higher in the complications group (64.1±17.5 years vs. 54.9±17.6 years, P<0.001). The proportion of head trauma patients was higher (58.3% vs. 24.6%, P<0.001) and the Glasgow Coma Scale score was worse (median [interquartile range], 12 [6.5–15] vs. 15 [14–15]; P<0.001) in the complications group. The number of rib fractures, the degree of rib fracture displacement, and the severity of pulmonary contusions were also higher in the complications group. In the area under the ROC curve analysis, the TTSS showed the highest predictive value for the entire group (0.731), head trauma group (0.715), and no head trauma group (0.730), while RibScore had the poorest performance (0.643, 0.622, and 0.622, respectively)
Conclusions
Early injury severity detection and grading are crucial for patients with blunt chest trauma. The chest trauma scoring systems introduced to date, including the TTSS, are not acceptable for clinical use, especially in polytrauma patients with traumatic brain injury. Therefore, further revisions and analyses of chest trauma scoring systems are recommended.

Summary

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Evaluation and Proposed Refinement of the Thoracic Trauma Severity Score: Improving Prognostic Accuracy in Blunt Chest Trauma Including Polytrauma Patients
Noha Mohamed Ashraf Fouda, Nour El-Din Noaman Gwely, Gehad Ibrahim Awad, Mohammed Abdelfattah Sanad
European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Accurate, fair, and generalisable scaling of injury severity score-based AI with demographics in terms of mortality in patients with trauma: multi-centre, multi-national retrospective cohort study
Yunjeong Choi, Junepill Seok, Thomas Young-Chul Oh, Jeremy Hsu, Do Wan Kim, Byungchul Yu, Jayun Cho, Woocheol Jang, Jina Kim, Na-eun Oh, Jehyeuk Ahn, Robert J. Femia, Paul A. Testa, Dong Keon Yon, Daniel K. Sodickson, Wu Seong Kang, Jinseok Lee
eBioMedicine.2026; 126: 106206. CrossRef
Development and validation of a prediction model for respiratory complications and in-hospital mortality in trauma patients
Do Wan Kim, Dongjin Yeo, Juyeong Kim, Yerin Hwang, Hyunjee Kim, Seung Ha Hwang, Jaeyu Park, Jinseok Lee, Jaehyeong Cho, Selin Woo, Junepill Seok, Byungchul Yu, Youngmin Kim, Sebeom Jeon, Dong Keon Yon, Wu Seong Kang
Scientific Reports.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Role of the Chest Trauma Scoring System as a Predictor of Mortality and Morbidity and as a Prognostic Tool in Thoracic Trauma Patients: A Prospective Observational Study
Sruthi R. Pillai, Ramu Remanan, Vigy Georgekutty Vazhakalayalil
Amrita Journal of Medicine.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Lateral implosion injuries: Epidemiology, outcomes and evaluation of the Ch-Sh classification
Joseph E. Hughes-Gooding, Liam Alcock, Peter T.M. Clarke, William J. Hunt, John G. Edwards
Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Clinical and instrumental diagnosis of combined fractures of the clavicle and ribs
O.A. Burianov, V.Р. Kvasha, M.V. Кrаvchuk, D.V. Miasnikov
EMERGENCY MEDICINE.2025; 21(8): 800. CrossRef
Clinical prediction models for the management of blunt chest trauma in the emergency department: a systematic review
Ceri Battle, Elaine Cole, Kym Carter, Edward Baker
BMC Emergency Medicine.2024;[Epub] CrossRef

Case Reports

A rare and unique experience of a blunt intrathoracic traumatic injury of the trachea and its management in South Africa: a case report: Rudo Mutsa Vanessa Pswarayi, Anna Katariina Kerola; J Trauma Inj. 2023;36(4):416-420. Published online November 30, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2023.0036

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Abstract PDF: Blunt intrathoracic tracheal injuries are rare, even among blunt chest trauma patients. An early diagnosis based on a high index of suspicion allows for timely surgical management of potentially fatal airway trauma, thereby improving overall outcomes. Diagnosing these injuries can be difficult due to their nonspecific clinical features and the occasional difficulty in radiologic diagnosis. If a patient exhibits respiratory compromise with difficult ventilation and poor lung expansion, despite the insertion and management of an intercostal drain following high-energy blunt trauma, there should be a heightened suspicion of potential airway trauma. The aim of primary repair is to restore airway integrity and to minimize the loss of pulmonary parenchyma function. This case report discusses the rare clinical presentation of a patient with blunt trauma to the intrathoracic airway, the surgical management thereof, and his overall outcome. Although blunt traumatic injuries of the trachea are extremely rare and often fatal, early surgical intervention can potentially reduce the risk of mortality.; Summary

Traumatic Tricuspid Regurgitation Cause by Chordal Rupture: A Case Report: Min Ae Keum, Hyo Keun No, Byung Joo Sun, Suk Kyung Hong; J Trauma Inj. 2015;28(2):67-70. Published online June 30, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2015.28.2.67

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Abstract PDF: Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma caused by chordal rupture, anterior papillary muscle rupture and anterior leaflet tear. Since clinical symptoms are vague, early diagnosis is difficult and some patient exhibit symptoms of right heart failure. Right heart failure has been the traditional indication for surgical treatment, such as tricuspid valve replacement. Recently, early detection using transthoracic echocardiography and surgical treatment, like valve repair, prior to overt right heart failure have been shown to better prognosis. We report a case of traumatic tricuspid regurgitation with chordal rupture in patient due to traffic accident.; Summary

Traumatic Asphyxia due to Blunt Chest Trauma with External Auditory Canal Bleeding: Je Ho Lee, Kyu Hyouck Kyoung, Jeong Won Kim, Hui Jun Yang, Eun Seog Hong; J Trauma Inj. 2013;26(4):297-299.

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Abstract PDF: Traumatic asphyxia, also called 'Perthes syndrome', is characterized by subconjunctival hemorrhage, cervicofacialpetechiae and cyanosis resulting from venous hypertension caused by an abrupt, severe, compressive force to the thoracoabdominal region. A 37-year-old male patient who was transferred to the emergency room due to chest trauma by overturning of a forkcrane. His head, neck, and shoulders showed severe ecchymosis, and his upper chest was cyanotic. There was bilateral subconjunctival hemorrhage and bilateral ear bleeding without tympanic rupture. Perthes syndrome is a rare condition and we treated a patient with typical and atypical symptoms; thus we report this case of Perthes syndrome.; Summary

Clinical Analysis of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP) in Blunt-chest-trauma Patients: Joong Hwan Oh, Il Hwan Park, Chun Sung Byun, Geum Suk Bae; J Trauma Inj. 2013;26(4):291-296.

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Abstract PDF: PURPOSE
Prolonged ventilation leads to a higher incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), resulting in weaning failure and increased medical costs. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical results and prognostic factors of VAP in patients with blunt chest trauma.
METHODS
From 2007 to 2011, one hundred patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours were divided into two groups: a VAP-negative group, (32 patients, mean age; 53 years, M:F=25:7) and a VAP-positive group, (68 patients, mean age; 60 years, M:F=56:12). VAP was diagnosed using clinical symptoms, radiologic findings and microorganisms. The injury severity score (ISS), shock, combined injuries, computerized tomographic pulmonary findings, transfusion, chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), ventilation time, stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays, complications such as sepsis or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and microorganisms were analyzed. Chi square, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression analysies were used with SPSS 18 software.
RESULTS
Age, sex, ISS, shock and combined injuries showed no differences between the VAP - negative group and - positive group (p>0.05), but ventilation time, ICU and hospital stays, blood transfusion and complications such as sepsis or DIC showed significant differencies (p<0.05). Four patients(13%) showed no clinical symptoms eventhough blood cultures were positive. Regardless of VAP, mortality-related factors were shock (p=0.036), transfusion (p=0.042), COPD (p=0.029), mechanical ventilation time (p=0.011), ICU stay (p=0.032), and sepsis (p=0.000). Microorgnisms were MRSA(43%), pseudomonas(24%), acinetobacter(16%), streptococcus(9%), klebsiela(4%), staphillococus aureus(4%). However there was no difference in mortality between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
VAP itself was not related with mortality. Consideration of mortality-related factors for VAP and its aggressive treatment play important roles in improving patient outcomes.; Summary

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