Biomaterial Database

Mangled extremity severity score: an accurate guide to treatment of the severely injured upper extremity. 1994

J R Slauterbeck, and C Britton, and M S Moneim, and F W Clevenger

Department of Orthopaedics, University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque.

The mangled extremity severity score (MESS) is a scoring system that can be applied to mangled extremities and help one determine which mangled limbs will eventually come to amputation. The MESS is a graduated grading system based on skeletal and soft tissue injury, shock, ischemia, and age. The records of 37 patients having sustained 43 open fractures or mangled upper extremity injuries, seen and treated at the University of New Mexico's Regional Trauma Center between April 1987 and September 1990, have been reviewed. All nine extremity injuries with a MESS of greater than or equal to seven were amputated, and 34 of 34 with a MESS of less than seven were salvaged. Nine Grade IIIC and six mangled extremities were identified in our study. Five of these Grade IIIC and four of the mangled extremities with a MESS of greater than or equal to seven were amputated. All Grade IIIC or mangled extremities with a MESS of less than seven were salvaged. In conclusion, the MESS is an early and accurate predictor for identifying the extremities that may be best treated by amputation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011379	Prognosis	A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations.	Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D011885	Radius Fractures	Fractures of the RADIUS.	Galeazzi Fracture,Galeazzi Fracture Dislocation,Radial Fractures,Dislocation, Galeazzi Fracture,Fracture Dislocation, Galeazzi,Fracture, Galeazzi,Fracture, Radial,Fracture, Radius,Radial Fracture,Radius Fracture
D005121	Extremities	The farthest or outermost projections of the body, such as the HAND and FOOT.	Limbs,Extremity,Limb
D005597	Fractures, Open	Fractures in which there is an external wound communicating with the break of the bone.	Fractures, Compound,Compound Fracture,Compound Fractures,Fracture, Compound,Fracture, Open,Open Fracture,Open Fractures
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006810	Humeral Fractures	Fractures of the HUMERUS.	Humeri Fractures,Humerus Fractures,Fracture, Humeral,Fracture, Humeri,Fracture, Humerus,Humeral Fracture,Humeri Fracture,Humerus Fracture
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000671	Amputation, Surgical	The surgical removal of part of, or all of, a limb or other appendage or outgrowth of the body.	Amputation,Amputation, Multiple, Surgical,Multiple Amputation, Surgical,Surgical Amputation Procedures,Amputation Procedure, Surgical,Amputation Procedures, Surgical,Amputation, Surgical Multiple,Amputations,Amputations, Surgical,Amputations, Surgical Multiple,Multiple Amputations, Surgical,Procedure, Surgical Amputation,Procedures, Surgical Amputation,Surgical Amputation,Surgical Amputation Procedure,Surgical Amputations,Surgical Multiple Amputation,Surgical Multiple Amputations
D012189	Retrospective Studies	Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons.	Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective