%0 Journal Article
%T Developing a simplified clinical prediction score for mortality in patients with cerebral gunshot wounds: the Maritzburg Score
%J Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
%D 2018
%A Kong, V. Y.
%A Odendaal, J.
%A Sartorius, B.
%A Clarke, D. L.
%A Bruce, J. L.
%A Laing, G. L.
%A Esterhuizen, T.
%V 100
%N 2
%P 97-100
%X 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>
%G en
%I Royal College of Surgeons of England
%@ 0035-8843
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2017.0141