Definition of Major Trauma

In the absence of an internationally recognised standard definition of major trauma, Victoria applies the following operational definition of major trauma in injured patients:

  • Death after injury.
  • Admission to an intensive care unit for more than 24 hours, requiring a period of mechanical ventilation.
  • Serious injury to two or more body systems.
  • an Injury Severity Score (ISS) over 12, or
Urgent surgery for intracranial, intrathoracic or intra-abdominal injury, or for fixation of pelvic or spinal fractures.
 
Multi-Vehicle Collision
Image used with permission from Ambulance Victoria