To investigate the value of IMEWS method in assessing the condition of trauma patients in pre-hospital accident scene.

A retrospective analysis of 2 243 cases of road traffic injuries with pre-hospital treatment in emergency department of Zhenjiang Emergency Center in Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province was conducted and evaluated by TIEWS scoring method. Of the 2 243 patients, 1 239 were male (55.2%) and 1 004 (44.8%) were women, ranging in age from 18 to 97 years with a mean age of (47.3±11.2) years. Among all the patients, the patients in the age group of 31-40 years old were the most (642 cases) (28.6%), followed by the patients aged 41-50 years (576 cases) (25.7%). The limb injury patients were 1 336 cases (59.6%) and the traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients were 1 021 cases (45.5%).1 683 cases (75.0%) had IMEWS score <6, 472 cases (21.0% ) had IMEWS score ≥6 and <12 , only 88 cases (3.9%) had IMEWS score ≥12 points. By a different scores corresponding to the patient's whereabouts after hospitalization and the prognosis of illness, we draw its relationship with the disease.

The number of patients receiving IMEWS score <6 was significantly less than that of ICU patients receiving IMEWS scores 6-11 and ≥12 (P<0.01) and the number of deaths was also significantly less than that (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the male/female ratio, improved KTS score and number of different age among three groups (P>0.05). Patients with IMEWS score <6 had no difference between patients with different age groups and those with IMEWS scores of 6 to 11, and those with ≥12 scores (P>0.05).

IMEWS method can be used to determine the severity of illness in patients with traumatic injury and has the ability to identifypotentially critically ill patients.