Evaluation of the Injury Impairment Scale IIS in predicting impairment following major head injury.

Prediction of functional outcome following major brain injury is important in planning for care, and advising patients' families regarding the potential for disability. The Injury Impairment Scale (IIS) has been formulated, through expert consensus, to provide some basis for that prediction. This study compared predicted with actual outcome in a group of 326 patients aged 20 to 54 years, with major head injury, without concomitant major extracranial injury. IIS prediction was accurate in only 52% of cases. It is concluded that IIS was not valid for predicting functional outcome in this population. (A)