Chest Trauma Scoring Systems as Predictors of Morbidity and Mortality in Iraq

Chest trauma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, often resulting from motor vehicle accidents, falls, or physical assaults. It can lead to serious complications such as pulmonary contusions, rib fractures, and damage to thoracic organs. The Chest Trauma Score (CTS) helps assess injury severity by considering factors like age, number of rib fractures, and pulmonary contusion severity. Higher CTS values are associated with worse outcomes, such as prolonged mechanical ventilation and higher mortality rates. Early identification using this scoring system improves clinical decision-making and outcomes.

Despite the global utility of trauma scoring systems, there is limited research on their application in developing countries like Iraq, where trauma care is often constrained by limited resources and inconsistent protocols. In Iraq, blunt chest trauma is a prevalent issue due to frequent road traffic accidents and other causes. However, a lack of locally validated tools such as CTS hinders the ability of healthcare providers to assess injury severity accurately and predict outcomes.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Chest Trauma Score in predicting morbidity and mortality among patients with blunt chest trauma in Iraq. By addressing this research gap, the findings will contribute to improving trauma care protocols, informing policy decisions, and enhancing the overall healthcare system's capacity to manage chest trauma effectively.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients diagnosed with blunt chest trauma.
• Patients presenting to the emergency department within 4 hours.
• Patients (or their legal representatives) must provide informed consent to participate in the study.
• Patients who can be assessed using the Chest Trauma Score at the time of arrival (e.g., having stable enough vitals to allow for evaluation).

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with penetrating chest trauma (e.g., gunshot or stab wounds), as the Chest Trauma Score is typically used for blunt trauma.
• Patients presenting with chest conditions unrelated to trauma (e.g., pneumonia, COPD exacerbation, or other non-traumatic causes of chest pain or respiratory distress).
• Patients with severe pre-existing comorbidities (e.g., end-stage heart failure, terminal cancer) where trauma is unlikely to be the primary cause of morbidity or mortality.
• Patients with missing or incomplete clinical data, including imaging or vital signs necessary to calculate the CTS accurately.
• Patients who refuse consent or do not agree to the use of their data for research purposes.