@article{ref1,
title="Developing a simplified clinical prediction score for mortality in patients with cerebral gunshot wounds: the Maritzburg Score",
journal="Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England",
year="2018",
author="Kong, V. Y. and Odendaal, J. and Sartorius, B. and Clarke, D. L. and Bruce, J. L. and Laing, G. L. and Esterhuizen, T.",
volume="100",
number="2",
pages="97-100",
abstract="Introduction Cerebral gunshot wounds are highly lethal and literature on the clinical scores for mortality prediction is limited. <br><br>MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study was undertaken over a 5-year period at the Pietermaritzburg Metropolitan Trauma Service in South Africa. A simplified clinical prediction score was developed based on clinical and/or physiological variables readily available in the resuscitation room. <br><br>RESULTS A total of 102 patients were included; 92% (94/102) were male and the mean age was 29 years; 22% (22/102) died during the admission. The presence of visible brain matter (odds ratio 12.4, P = 0.003) and motor score less than 5 (odds ratio 89.6, P  < 0.001) allows the prediction success of 92% (sensitivity 73% and specificity 98%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 94% (95% confidence interval 88-100%, P  < 0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS The presence of visible brain matter, together with a motor score of less than 5, allows accurate identification of non-survivors of cerebral gunshot wounds. Further study is required to validate this score.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0035-8843",
doi="10.1308/rcsann.2017.0141",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2017.0141"
}