[Trauma register of the German Society of Trauma Surgery. "Scoring" study committee of the German Society of Trauma Surgery].

In January 1992 the German Society of Trauma Surgery founded the working group "Scoring" with the aim of developing guidelines for a standardized use of scoring systems in severely injured patients. The study group developed the "Trauma Register" for prospective data collection in severely injured patients, from the scene of the accident up to discharge from hospital. The register contains routinely available anatomical and physiological variables, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, and any complications. Calculation of different scores is possible from the data collected. The completed registers will be collected and processed together. Statistical analyses are possible for the total population as well as for single trauma centres. The aim of the Trauma Register is the definition of standards on diagnostic and therapeutic concepts and the evaluation of trauma care. Trauma centres can compare their own performance against given standards (quality control). If there are deviations from the norms the reasons have to be identified and necessary countermeasures should be implemented (quality assurance). The register has been tested in a feasibility phase in six German trauma centres and will hopefully have an impact comparable to that of the Major Trauma Outcome Study (MTOS) in the USA.