How to detect a polytrauma patient at risk of complications: A validation and database analysis of four published scales.

Our data show that prediction of complications is more precise after using values that covers different physiological systems (coagulation, hemorrhage, acid-base changes, and soft tissue damage) when compared with using values of only one physiological system (e.g., acidosis). When acid-base changes alone were tested in terms of complications, they were predictive of complications within 72 hours but failed to predict late complications. These findings should be considered when performing early assessment of trauma patients or for the development of new scores.