Critical Care · criteria

Pediatric Trauma Score

Component scoring for the Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS); score ≤8 warrants triage to a pediatric trauma centre.

Size

+2: ≥20 kg
+1: 10-20 kg
-1: <10 kg

Airway

+2: Normal
+1: Maintainable
-1: Unmaintainable

Systolic BP

+2: ≥90 mm Hg
+1: 50-90 mm Hg
-1: <50 mm Hg

CNS

+2: Awake
+1: Obtunded/LOC
-1: Coma/decerebrate

Open Wound

+2: None
+1: Minor
-1: Major/penetrating

Skeletal

+2: None
+1: Closed fracture
-1: Open/multiple fractures

Interpretation

(Score ≤8) increased risk of mortality and morbidity — triage to a pediatric trauma centre. Mortality rises steeply below 8 (Tepas 1987).

Source: Reference: From Tepas JJ 3rd, Mollitt DL, Talbert JL, et al: The Pediatric Trauma Score as a predictor of injury severity in the injured child, J Pediatr Surg 22:14–18, 1987 (Table 1, p 15)

Related guides

Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS): A Clinician's Monograph

Clinician reference on the Pediatric Trauma Score — Tepas six-component scoring, triage thresholds, mortality prediction, red flags, and the trauma resuscitation approach.

Related Critical Care diagnostics

Anaphylactic Reaction

Emergency assessment and management algorithm for acute anaphylaxis.

Cardiac Arrest

Pediatric cardiac arrest resuscitation algorithm (shockable and nonshockable pathways).

Multi Organ Dysfunction (MODS)

Organ system criteria for pediatric multi-organ dysfunction syndrome.

PARDS

Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome definition compared with the Berlin Definition.

Reference this at the bedside, offline — get the Doctaverse app.