Can an App based Maxillofacial Trauma Score predict operative time, length of stay and need for ICU?
Description
Purpose: Injury and Trauma scores are the mainstay of predicting outcomes of trauma patients. ZS maxillofacial trauma score is based on four previous facial trauma scores and is user friendly, app-based visually coded facial trauma scoring. Our study was designed to seek the application of app based ZS maxillofacial trauma score to predict the operative time, ICU need and length of stay. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who presented to a university medical college teaching hospital with maxillofacial fractures from October 2018 until October 2019. ZS maxillofacial trauma scoring app was used to calculate facial. Our primary predictor variable was ZS maxillofacial trauma score. Our primary outcome of interest was operative time. Our secondary outcome of interest was ICU need and length of stay. Correlation analysis, linear regression and logistic regression was performed for statistical analysis. A statistical p value of .05 was considered significant at a 95% confidence interval. Results: There were 95 males and 5 female patients included in the study. The age ranged from 3 to 84 years with a mean of 30.76 (SD=14.04). A statistically significant correlation between the ZS score and operative time (r=0.67, p<0.001) was observed. ZS score predicted operative time (b1=7.67, p<0.001) in our study sample. Increasing ZS trauma score was also significantly associated with ICU requirement (X2(3)=13.682, p=.003). Conclusions: App based ZS maxillofacial trauma score can predict the operative time and need for ICU. Keywords: Facial trauma; perioperative outcomes; trauma score; ZS maxillofacial trauma score. ZS maxillofacial trauma score is a simple, intuitive, user-friendly and visual app based scoring system which provides a composite score that can be utilized for documentation, communication and prognostic purpose. The ZS score can predict the operative time and ICU requirement which is a surrogate marker of patient outcomes and can be used to quantify the severity of facial trauma, perioperative outcomes and the cost of treatment. As it is an app based scoring system, it has the potential to be integrated into the electronic medical record system, which can simplify the documentation of facial trauma. Medical devices and apps are already invaluable tools for us, and as their features and uses expand, they are expected to become even more widely incorporated into nearly every aspect of clinical practice. We believe an app based facial trauma score like the ZS score can provide meaningful, accurate, and timely information and guidance to the end user in order to serve the vital purpose of improving patient outcomes.