Table 1.

ICD9-CM diagnostic codes used to identify patients with moderate-severe injuries

ACS-COT description of life- threatening or critical injury	Assumption	ICD9-CM diagnostic codes
Injury to aorta, carotid and vertebral vessels		900, 901
Injury to heart		861.0, 861.1
>2 rib fractures or bilateral pulmonary contusions	>2 rib fractures, flail chest, or pulmonary contusions	807.03–807.09, 807.4, 861.20–861.22, 861.30–32
Injury to abdominal vasculature		902
Open fracture with loss of distal pulses	Complete or partial amputation of upper/lower extremity	887, 897
Open skull fracture		800.5–800.9, 801.5–801.9, 804.5–804.9
GCS<14	Cerebral laceration with moderate-severe loss of consciousness	851.03–851.05, 851.13–851.15, 851.23–851.25, 851.33–851.35, 851.43–851.45, 851.53–851.55, 851.63–851.65, 851.73–851.75, 851.83–851.85, 851.93–851.95
	Subarachnoid, subdural or epidural hemorrhage with moderate-severe loss of consciousness	852.03–852.05, 852.13–852.15, 852.23–852.25, 852.33–852.35, 852.43–852.45, 852.53–852.55
	Other intra-cranial hemorrhage with moderate-severe loss of consciousness	853.03–853.05, 853.13–853.15
	Intra-cranial injury of other and unspecified nature with moderate-severe loss of consciousness	854.03–854.05, 854.13–854.15
Any vertebral column fracture	Fracture of vertebral column	805, 806
Open fracture of long bone	Open fracture of humerus, radius/ulna, femur, tibia, fibula	812.1, 812.3, 812.5, 813.1, 813.3, 813.5, 813.8, 820.1, 820.3, 820.9, 821.1, 821.3, 823.1, 823.3, 823.9
Severe torso injury with co-morbid disease	Injury to thoracic organs, GI tract, liver, spleen, kidney, pelvic organs, other intra-abdominal organs, unspecified intra-abdominal organs	862–869 with co-morbid disease as defined by Elixhauser.
Grade IV liver laceration with >6 units pRBC transfused	Did not include
Pelvic fracture with >6 units pRBC transfused	Did not include