Using Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) codes to classify Computed Tomography (CT) features in the Marshall System

• Published in: BMC medical research methodology Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 72
• Main Authors: Lesko, Mehdi M, Woodford, Maralyn, White, Laura, O'Brien, Sarah J, Childs, Charmaine, Lecky, Fiona E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 06.08.2010; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Abbreviated Injury Scale; Adult; Algorithms; Brain Injuries - classification; Brain Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Brain Injuries - pathology; Humans; Software; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Trauma Severity Indices
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2288-10-72
• ISSN: 1471-2288

The purpose of Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) is to code various types of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) based on their anatomical location and severity. The Marshall CT Classification is used to identify those subgroups of brain injured patients at higher risk of deterioration or mortality. The purpose of this study is to determine whether and how AIS coding can be translated to the Marshall Classification Initially, a Marshall Class was allocated to each AIS code through cross-tabulation. This was agreed upon through several discussion meetings with experts from both fields (clinicians and AIS coders). Furthermore, in order to make this translation possible, some necessary assumptions with regards to coding and classification of mass lesions and brain swelling were essential which were all approved and made explicit. The proposed method involves two stages: firstly to determine all possible Marshall Classes which a given patient can attract based on allocated AIS codes; via cross-tabulation and secondly to assign one Marshall Class to each patient through an algorithm. This method can be easily programmed in computer softwares and it would enable future important TBI research programs using trauma registry data.