OBJECTIVE CRITERIA ACCURATELY PREDICT AMPUTATION FOLLOWING LOWER-EXTREMITY TRAUMA

MESS (Mangled Extremity Severity Score) is a simple rating scale for lower extremity trauma, based on skeletal/soft-tissue damage, limb ischemia, shock, and age. Retrospective analysis of severe lower extremity injuries in 25 trauma victims demonstrated a significant difference between MESS values for 17 limbs ultimately salvaged (mean, 4.88 ± 0.27) and nine requiring amputation (mean, 9.11 ± 0.51) (p < 0.01). A prospective trial of MESS in lower extremity injuries managed at two trauma centers again demonstrated a significant difference between MESS values of 14 salvaged (mean, 4.00 ± 0.28) and 12 doomed (mean, 8.83 ± 0.53) limbs (p < 0.01). In both the retrospective survey and the prospective trial, a MESS value >7 predicted amputation with 100% accuracy. MESS may be useful in selecting trauma victims whose irretrievably injured lower extremities warrant primary amputation. © 1990 by The Williams and Wilkins Co.