CAISS External and Thermal 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An AIS code in the External/Thermal region includes the sequence digit '6' in the injury descriptor position. What does this indicate?
- The injury is a burn
- The injury is in the thorax
- The injury involves the skin surface (Correct answer)
- The injury is a laceration
Correct answer: The injury involves the skin surface
In AIS, position digit '6' in the descriptor sequence denotes the External body region, indicating skin surface involvement.
Question 2: Frostbite resulting in full-thickness tissue loss of three fingers would most appropriately receive which AIS severity code?
- AIS 1
- AIS 2
- AIS 3 (Correct answer)
- AIS 4
Correct answer: AIS 3
Full-thickness frostbite with tissue loss affecting multiple digits is classified AIS 3 (serious) in the External and Thermal chapter.
Question 3: Which of the following thermal injury mechanisms would be coded under AIS Thermal rather than External?
- Abrasion from road rash
- Chemical burn from alkali contact
- Scald burn from hot water (Correct answer)
- Degloving from machinery
Correct answer: Scald burn from hot water
Scald burns from hot liquids are thermal injuries and are coded in the AIS Thermal chapter, not the External (mechanical) chapter.
Question 4: A patient sustains a circumferential full-thickness burn to the right lower leg. The primary immediate coding concern beyond AIS severity is:
- Infection risk only
- Compartment syndrome from eschar constriction (Correct answer)
- Fluid loss calculation
- Tetanus prophylaxis status
Correct answer: Compartment syndrome from eschar constriction
Circumferential full-thickness burns can cause eschar constriction leading to compartment syndrome, an associated injury that may require separate AIS coding.
Question 5: In AIS 2015 Update, burns to the face are coded under which chapter when only skin is involved?
- Head chapter
- External/Thermal chapter (Correct answer)
- Neck chapter
- Spine chapter
Correct answer: External/Thermal chapter
Superficial burns to the face involving only skin without airway compromise are coded in the External/Thermal chapter of AIS.
Question 6: What is the AIS severity score for a single, small (< 3 cm) laceration requiring simple closure?
- AIS 1 (Correct answer)
- AIS 2
- AIS 3
- AIS 0
Correct answer: AIS 1
Minor lacerations requiring simple closure without deep structure involvement are coded AIS 1 (minor) in the External region.
Question 7: When coding multiple superficial abrasions in the AIS External chapter, the coder should:
- Code only the largest abrasion
- Sum all abrasion areas and assign one code
- Code each abrasion separately and use the highest for ISS (Correct answer)
- Ignore abrasions under 5 cm
Correct answer: Code each abrasion separately and use the highest for ISS
Each injury is coded separately in AIS; the highest AIS score from a body region is used in the ISS calculation.
CAISS External and Thermal 3
An AIS code in the External/Thermal region includes the sequence digit '6' in the injury descriptor position.
What does this indicate?