Evaluation of the Berlin polytrauma definition: A Dutch nationwide observational study

BACKGROUND The Berlin polytrauma definition (BPD) was established to identify multiple injury patients with a high risk of mortality. includes injuries an Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≥3 in ≥2 body regions (2AIS ≥3) combined the presence ≥1 physiological factors (PRFs). PRFs are based on age, Glasgow Coma Scale, hypotension, acidosis, and coagulopathy at specific cutoff values. This study evaluates compares BPD two other definitions used resource utilization mortality risk, using data from Dutch National Trauma Register (DNTR). METHODS evaluation performed 2015 2018 DNTR data. First, patient characteristics for 2AIS ≥3, Severity Score (ISS) ≥16, were compared. Second, prevalence odds ratios compared those Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie Register. Subsequently, association between PRF assessed ≥3–DNTR ISS ≥16. RESULTS recorded 300,649 acute trauma admissions. A total 15,711 sustained 6,263 had suffered injury. All individual associated >30% patients. increase significant both ≥16 4,264 met BPDs criteria. Overall (27.2%), intensive care unit admission (71.2%), length stay highest group. CONCLUSION confirms that identifies high-risk population-based registry. addition anatomical scores improves identification severely injured Compared definitions, showed improve accuracy capturing medical need rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiological study, level III.