CAISS Injury Classification & Scoring 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An ISS of 75 is the theoretical maximum achievable. Under what condition does a patient automatically receive an ISS of 75?
- Three AIS 5 injuries in different regions
- Any single AIS 6 injury (Correct answer)
- MAIS of 5 with two additional AIS 5 injuries
- Four or more AIS 4 injuries
Correct answer: Any single AIS 6 injury
By convention, any AIS 6 injury automatically yields an ISS of 75, the highest possible score, regardless of other injuries.
Question 2: The digit position in a full AIS code that represents the specific anatomical structure injured is the:
- First digit
- Second digit
- Digits 3–5 (Correct answer)
- Sixth digit
Correct answer: Digits 3–5
In the 7-digit AIS predot code, digits 3–5 identify the specific anatomical structure within the body region.
Question 3: Which term describes the highest single AIS severity score recorded among all injuries in a patient?
- ISS
- NISS
- MAIS (Correct answer)
- TRISS
Correct answer: MAIS
MAIS (Maximum AIS) is the single highest AIS severity score assigned to any one injury in the patient's injury profile.
Question 4: A pulmonary contusion documented as 'bilateral, large' in AIS 2015 Update 2018 would most likely receive which severity score?
- AIS 2
- AIS 3
- AIS 4 (Correct answer)
- AIS 5
Correct answer: AIS 4
Bilateral large pulmonary contusion is typically coded AIS 4 (Severe) due to its significant physiological impact.
Question 5: In the AIS coding framework, the 'type of injury' digit primarily differentiates between:
- Open versus closed injuries
- Fractures, lacerations, contusions, and other injury morphologies (Correct answer)
- Right-sided versus left-sided injuries
- Acute versus chronic injuries
Correct answer: Fractures, lacerations, contusions, and other injury morphologies
The injury type digit in the AIS predot code distinguishes injury morphology such as fractures, lacerations, and contusions within a given body region.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the role of the post-dot digit in an AIS code?
- It identifies the specific body region
- It indicates the severity level of the injury on a 1–6 scale (Correct answer)
- It records the treatment required
- It classifies the mechanism of injury
Correct answer: It indicates the severity level of the injury on a 1–6 scale
The post-dot digit (after the decimal point) in an AIS code specifies the injury severity on the 1–6 scale.
Question 7: An injury coded as 'AIS 9' indicates:
- The most critical survivable injury
- An injury severity between AIS 6 and maximum
- Insufficient information to assign a code (Correct answer)
- A fatal injury confirmed at autopsy
Correct answer: Insufficient information to assign a code
AIS 9 is used when an injury is known to exist but insufficient clinical information is available to assign a specific severity code.
CAISS Injury Classification & Scoring 3
An ISS of 75 is the theoretical maximum achievable.
Under what condition does a patient automatically receive an ISS of 75?