Injury Severity Score (ISS)

The ISS was developed primarily as a research tool to standardize the study of trauma patients. It is not intended for bedside decision-making in the context of a single patient. Therefore, the calculation of the ISS should not impact initial management of the patient with traumatic injuries. The priority in all trauma patients is conducting the primary and secondary survey and stabilization of traumatic injuries. However, it may have application in the clinical setting following initial stabilization of traumatic injuries. 

The initial population focus of the ISS was patients with blunt trauma from motor vehicle accidents only.

Notes

• The ISS gives equal importance to each body region.
• A score of 6 (Unsurvivable) in any body system will automatically assign an ISS of 75, which is the maximum possible score.
• The ISS is calculated only from the three most severe injuries.

Rules

1. Select the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) Score that represents the most severe injury in each body system (below).

2. If the 3 most severe injuries in 3 body systems are A, B, and C, then

3. ISS=A² + B² + C² 

Rate only the most severe injury from each body system.