CAISS Extremity Injuries 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient has a traumatic amputation at the mid-forearm level with no vascular injury. What is the AIS severity score?
- AIS 2
- AIS 3
- AIS 4 (Correct answer)
- AIS 5
Correct answer: AIS 4
Traumatic amputation of the forearm is coded AIS 4, reflecting a serious but not immediately life-threatening injury.
Question 2: Which AIS body region code is used for injuries to the lower extremity?
- Region 5
- Region 6 (Correct answer)
- Region 7
- Region 8
Correct answer: Region 6
AIS Region 6 designates lower extremity injuries in the standard AIS coding framework.
Question 3: An open femur fracture with arterial injury is best coded at which AIS severity level?
- AIS 3
- AIS 4
- AIS 5 (Correct answer)
- AIS 6
Correct answer: AIS 5
A femur fracture complicated by arterial injury carries an AIS 5 (critical) severity due to the vascular compromise and hemorrhage risk.
Question 4: In AIS coding, a closed comminuted tibial shaft fracture without neurovascular compromise is assigned which severity?
- AIS 1
- AIS 2
- AIS 3 (Correct answer)
- AIS 4
Correct answer: AIS 3
A comminuted closed tibia fracture is coded AIS 3 (serious) reflecting significant structural disruption without immediate life threat.
Question 5: How does the AIS system differentiate between a knee dislocation with popliteal artery injury versus one without?
- Both are coded identically
- Vascular injury adds one severity point
- Vascular injury raises the code to AIS 4 or 5 (Correct answer)
- Vascular injury changes the body region code
Correct answer: Vascular injury raises the code to AIS 4 or 5
Popliteal artery injury with knee dislocation escalates AIS severity to 4 or 5 due to limb-threatening ischemia potential.
Question 6: A crush injury to the hand resulting in multiple metacarpal fractures and soft tissue loss would most appropriately receive which AIS score?
- AIS 1
- AIS 2
- AIS 3 (Correct answer)
- AIS 4
Correct answer: AIS 3
Multiple metacarpal fractures with soft tissue loss constitute a serious injury coded AIS 3.
Question 7: When coding lower extremity injuries, which descriptor best corresponds to AIS 1?
- Femur fracture
- Ankle sprain (Correct answer)
- Tibia fracture
- Hip dislocation
Correct answer: Ankle sprain
Minor injuries such as ankle sprains are coded AIS 1, reflecting minimal structural damage with no lasting disability expected.
CAISS Extremity Injuries 2
A patient has a traumatic amputation at the mid-forearm level with no vascular injury.
What is the AIS severity score?