Revised Trauma Score Calculator – RTS Severity & Mortality
Calculate the Revised Trauma Score (RTS) from Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate to assess trauma severity and estimate survival probability.
Enter the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale score, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate to compute the Revised Trauma Score and receive a trauma severity classification.
Revised Trauma Score Calculator – RTS Severity & Mortality
Calculate the Revised Trauma Score (RTS) from Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate to assess trauma severity and estimate survival probability.
About the Revised Trauma Score calculator
The Revised Trauma Score (RTS) is a validated physiological scoring system used in trauma care to assess injury severity, predict patient outcomes, and guide triage decisions. Developed by Champion and colleagues in 1989, the RTS was designed to be rapidly calculable at the bedside or in pre-hospital settings using three easily measured parameters: the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and respiratory rate (RR).
The scoring methodology uses coded values rather than raw numbers. Each physiological measurement is converted to a coded value on a 0–4 scale based on the degree of physiological derangement. The coded GCS value is 4 for scores of 13–15 (near normal), 3 for scores of 9–12 (moderate impairment), 2 for scores of 6–8 (severe impairment), 1 for scores of 4–5 (near-coma), and 0 for GCS of 3 (deepest coma). The SBP and RR receive similar 0–4 coded values based on their respective ranges.
The Triage RTS (T-RTS) — the version calculated here — is the simple arithmetic sum of the three coded values and ranges from 0 to 12. The weighted RTS used in research settings applies regression coefficients (0.9368 × GCS_code + 0.7326 × SBP_code + 0.2908 × RR_code) and ranges from 0 to 7.84. This calculator uses the arithmetic T-RTS for clinical triage purposes.
A T-RTS of 12 indicates minor trauma with survival probability exceeding 98%. Scores of 10–11 suggest moderate injury; scores of 7–9 indicate serious injury; scores of 4–6 indicate severe injury; and scores below 4 indicate critical injury with very high mortality risk. These thresholds are consistent with the Major Trauma Outcome Study (MTOS) data.
The RTS is widely used in triage algorithms such as START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) and in trauma registry data collection. It is particularly valuable in mass casualty incidents and pre-hospital settings where rapid, objective physiological assessment is essential. In hospital trauma centres, the RTS is often combined with the Injury Severity Score (ISS) in the TRISS methodology to estimate survival probability more precisely.
This calculator provides the T-RTS score and a severity classification based on the coded value sum. It is intended for use by emergency medical personnel, trauma surgeons, and other qualified healthcare professionals as a decision-support tool.
Revised Trauma Score examples
Four representative clinical scenarios illustrating the full range of RTS severity categories.
| GCS / SBP / RR | T-RTS Score | Severity Category |
|---|---|---|
| GCS 15, SBP 120 mmHg, RR 16 breaths/min | T-RTS 12 | All three coded values are 4. Minor trauma with normal physiological parameters. Survival probability >98%. |
| GCS 11, SBP 80 mmHg, RR 22 breaths/min | T-RTS 10 | GCS code 3, SBP code 3, RR code 4 = 10. Moderate trauma with some physiological derangement. Requires hospital admission. |
| GCS 5, SBP 60 mmHg, RR 35 breaths/min | T-RTS 6 | GCS code 1, SBP code 2, RR code 3 = 6. Severe trauma with critical physiological derangement. High mortality risk; immediate intervention required. |
| GCS 3, SBP 40 mmHg, RR 5 breaths/min | T-RTS 2 | GCS code 0, SBP code 1, RR code 1 = 2. Critical trauma with life-threatening compromise. Very high mortality risk; immediate aggressive resuscitation required. |
How to use the Revised Trauma Score calculator
- Assess the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale score (3–15) by evaluating eye opening, verbal response, and motor response.
- Measure the systolic blood pressure in mmHg using a blood pressure cuff or monitor.
- Count the respiratory rate in breaths per minute over 15–30 seconds and multiply to get the per-minute rate.
- Enter all three values in the respective fields and click Calculate to see the T-RTS score, severity classification, and mortality risk estimate.
- Use the result to guide triage decisions: patients with T-RTS below 12 have physiological derangement and may require trauma centre care.
Revised Trauma Score FAQ
What is the difference between T-RTS and weighted RTS?
The Triage RTS (T-RTS) is the simple sum of the three coded values (GCS code + SBP code + RR code), ranging from 0 to 12. The weighted RTS applies regression coefficients derived from the MTOS dataset and produces a continuous score from 0 to 7.84 that correlates more precisely with survival probability. The T-RTS is used for rapid triage, while the weighted RTS is used in research and TRISS calculations.
How is the GCS coded for the RTS?
The GCS is converted to a coded value on a 0–4 scale: GCS 13–15 = code 4, GCS 9–12 = code 3, GCS 6–8 = code 2, GCS 4–5 = code 1, GCS 3 = code 0. This coding compresses the 13-point GCS range into five categories that reflect the degree of neurological impairment relevant to trauma outcome prediction.
What T-RTS score triggers a major trauma protocol?
In most trauma systems, a T-RTS below 12 indicates some physiological derangement and triggers consideration of major trauma protocols or trauma centre triage. A T-RTS of 11 or below is often used as a threshold for pre-hospital notification of a trauma centre. Scores below 10 typically indicate significant injury requiring immediate surgical or intensive care attention.
Can the RTS be used for paediatric patients?
The standard RTS was developed and validated for adult patients. In paediatric trauma, the Paediatric Trauma Score (PTS) is often preferred as it includes age and weight, and its scoring system is better calibrated for children's different physiological ranges. However, the RTS is sometimes used in paediatric patients when a single universal triage tool is needed in mass casualty situations.
How does the RTS relate to the Injury Severity Score (ISS)?
The RTS measures physiological severity (how the body is responding to injury), while the ISS measures anatomical severity (which body regions are injured and how severely). The TRISS methodology combines both scores with patient age to calculate a probability of survival. Used together, the RTS and ISS provide a more complete picture of trauma severity than either score alone.
What are the limitations of the Revised Trauma Score?
The RTS has several limitations. It can be influenced by pre-existing conditions (e.g., chronic hypertension or COPD), medications (beta-blockers may prevent tachycardia), and pre-hospital treatment (fluid resuscitation may normalise SBP before the score is calculated). It does not capture anatomical injury information. Despite these limitations, it remains a clinically useful and widely validated triage tool.