Analysis of the influence of trauma injury factors on the probability of survival

The probability or likelihood of survival in trauma injuries is a clinically important parameter for triage, setting treatment priorities and research and management audit. The existing methods for determining it have short comings that necessitate further development. In this study, an artificial intelligence method called fuzzy inference system (FIS) for determining the likelihood of survival in trauma injuries is being developed and evaluated. The accuracy of the FIS primarily depends on the design of its knowledge base. The required knowledge base is being designed by carrying out a detailed statistical analysis of the trauma injury profiles contained in a large data base of injury cases. As part of this analysis, the relationships between the body regions affected by trauma injuries, physiological measures (such as blood pressure, respiration rate and heart rate), age, gender, the neurological factors assessed by the Glasgow Comma Score and pre-exiting medical conditions on the probability of survival were analysed and a FIS system to indicate the likelihoods survival was proposed. The preliminary results obtained are presented.