Aim of study: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of trauma scoring systems in a developing country.
Method: Trauma Score (TS) and Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) were used to predict the survival of 462 trauma patients during the period January 1996 to July 1996.
Results: TS had a sensitivity of 53.9% and a specificity of 98.8% whereas TRISS had a sensitivity of 46% and a specificity of 98.7%. Significant differences in mortality were observed compared with the baseline Major Trauma Outcome Study (MTOS) norms (Z = 4.17, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Present injury severity instruments using MTOS coefficients do not accurately predict survival of trauma patients in a developing country, thus highlighting the need for developing new coefficients for trauma scoring in these countries.