Intermediate
Technical
IVT
ISS
Also written as: ISS — Injury Severity Score
Anatomical scoring system used to assess overall injury severity in trauma patients.
Full Definition
The Injury Severity Score (ISS) is an anatomical scoring system that provides an overall score for patients with multiple injuries. It is calculated by summing the squares of the highest Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores in the three most severely injured body regions. The ISS ranges from 1 to 75, with scores over 15 generally indicating major trauma. This scoring system is widely used in trauma research, quality improvement, and resource allocation decisions.
Usage
Usage note: Always spell out on first use: Injury Severity Score (ISS). Not to be confused with other injury scoring systems.
In Context
- "The patient's ISS of 29 indicated severe polytrauma requiring intensive care." — Trauma registry documentation
- "ISS calculation helped stratify patient risk for quality assurance review." — Trauma center report
Don't confuse with
AIS
NISS
TRISS