The Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) is used to rapidly assess the severity of injury following trauma. This can be used to triage children and to guide referral to pediatric trauma centers.
Parameter
Finding
Points
body size
> 20 kg
+2
10-20 kg
+ 1
< 10 kg
- 1
systolic blood pressure
> 90 mm Hg
+2
50-90 mm Hg
+ 1
< 50 mm Hg
- 1
airway
normal
+2
maintainable
+ 1
unmaintainable
- 1
consciousness
awake
+2
obtunded; unconscious
+ 1
coma, decerebrate
- 1
open wounds
none
+2
minor
+ 1
major, penetrating
- 1
fractures
none
+2
single closed fracture
+ 1
open fractures, multiple fractures
- 1
where:
• +2 indicates no or minimal injury, +1 indicates minor or potentially major injury and -1 indicates major or immediately life-threatening injury.
pediatric trauma score =
= (points for body size) + (points for systolic blood pressure) + (points for airway) + (points for consciousness) + (points for open wounds) + (points for fractures)
Interpretation:
• maximum score is 12
• minimum score -6
• Patients with scores < 8 are best managed at a pediatric trauma center
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