Revised Trauma Score Calculator

Revised Trauma Score Calculator for Trauma & Surgery. Lower weighted values reflect greater derangement. A maximum score does not assess anatomical injury or exclude deterioration, while a minimum is not a rule for withholding resuscitation. No universal destination, discharge or futility label is attached.

For shared guidance on choosing a tool and documenting results, read the clinical calculator workflow.

How this calculator works

The weighted Revised Trauma Score first converts recorded GCS, systolic pressure and respiratory rate into their historical 0-4 codes. It then calculates 0.9368 x GCS code + 0.7326 x pressure code + 0.2908 x respiratory code. The unweighted sum is displayed separately as T-RTS, preventing confusion between the two scales.

When to use this calculator

Use for understanding interpretable initial adult trauma physiology in an appropriate registry or educational workflow. An unassessable GCS, sedation or assisted ventilation can invalidate the observation. The interface requires whole-number recorded measurements because the source bands do not define decimal interpolation.

Inputs used

  • Adult trauma observations are interpretable and not confounded by treatment?
  • Completed Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Recorded systolic blood pressure (mmHg)
  • Recorded respiratory rate (/min)

Clinical interpretation

Lower weighted values reflect greater derangement. A maximum score does not assess anatomical injury or exclude deterioration, while a minimum is not a rule for withholding resuscitation. No universal destination, discharge or futility label is attached.

Worked example

GCS 15, pressure 90 mmHg and respiratory rate 10/min each map to code 4. Weighted RTS is 4 x (0.9368 + 0.7326 + 0.2908) = 7.8408; T-RTS is 12. GCS 3, pressure 0 and respiration 0 produce both minima of zero. GCS 9, pressure 76 and respiration 6 produce codes 3, 3 and 2, giving weighted RTS 5.5898 and T-RTS 8.

Limitations and safety notes

Values of 0 for pressure or respiration describe the historical coding endpoint, not reassurance about measurement quality. Noninteger measurements are rejected rather than guessed into gaps. The score is not TRISS, which requires additional information, and this implementation does not reproduce a GCS assessment instrument or claim independent clinical validation.

Frequently asked questions

Why are there two trauma totals?

RTS uses weighted codes and ranges to 7.8408. T-RTS is the unweighted code sum and ranges to 12.

Why can I not enter a decimal respiratory rate?

The original coding table is defined in recorded whole-number bands. The calculator will not invent an interpolation rule.

Does 7.8408 mean no major injury?

No. Significant anatomical injury can coexist with initially preserved physiology.

References

  • Champion1989 original revised trauma score identity and distinction between weighted and triage versions. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2657085/
  • Kim2017 primary study Table1: original RTS codes and coefficients 0.9368/0.7326/0.2908. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5496419/
  • 2026 penetrating-trauma primary study: same weighted formula and historical coding bands, not adoption of a local referral cutoff. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13142964/

Editorial review and citation methodology

Maintained by the Quick Medical Calculator Editorial Team. Content record date: September 9, 2026. A content date is not evidence of independent clinical review. Individual clinical sign-off is not recorded on this page.

  • Prefer original validation studies for scoring systems and prediction tools.
  • Use current specialty society guidance, transplant allocation policy, public health guidance, or regulator resources when they govern clinical use.
  • Include limitations and safety notes when a calculator is population-specific, context-dependent, or unsuitable as a standalone decision tool.

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