Revised Trauma Score Calculator

Score the Revised Trauma Score from Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate, giving both the field Triage RTS (0-12) and the weighted RTS (0-7.8408) used in outcome-prediction models.

Quick Facts

Score range
0-12 (Triage RTS) / 0-7.8408 (weighted RTS)
Built from GCS, systolic BP, and respiratory rate, each coded 0-4.
Weighted formula
0.9368×GCSc + 0.7326×SBPc + 0.2908×RRc
Coefficients published by Champion et al., 1989; used as a TRISS input.

Your Results

Calculated
Weighted RTS
-
0 to 7.8408 (TRISS input)
Triage RTS (T-RTS)
-
0 to 12 (sum of coded values)
Coded GCS / SBP / RR
-
Each component, 0 to 4
Severity band
-
Physiologic interpretation

Ready

Enter GCS, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate, then calculate the Revised Trauma Score.

About the Revised Trauma Score

The Revised Trauma Score (RTS) is a physiological severity score used in trauma care, published by Champion and colleagues in 1989 as a refinement of the original Trauma Score. It is built from three vital signs that are quick to obtain in the field or the emergency department: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and respiratory rate (RR). Each is converted to a coded value from 0 to 4, and the codes are combined in two ways depending on the use case.

How the score is built

Each input is coded using fixed bands:

  • GCS code: 4 for GCS 13-15, 3 for 9-12, 2 for 6-8, 1 for 4-5, 0 for 3.
  • Systolic BP code: 4 for above 89 mmHg, 3 for 76-89, 2 for 50-75, 1 for 1-49, 0 for 0 (no pulse).
  • Respiratory rate code: 4 for 10-29 breaths/min, 3 for above 29, 2 for 6-9, 1 for 1-5, 0 for 0 (apnea).

The Triage RTS (T-RTS) is simply the sum of the three codes, giving a whole number from 0 to 12; it is used at the scene or in triage to quickly flag patients who need a trauma center. The weighted RTS instead multiplies each code by a coefficient derived from outcome data - 0.9368 for the GCS code, 0.7326 for the SBP code, and 0.2908 for the RR code - then adds the three products, giving a value from 0 to 7.8408. The weighted RTS is the version used as an input to the TRISS (Trauma and Injury Severity Score) methodology for predicting survival probability.

Interpreting the result

A Triage RTS of 12 (all three codes at 4) reflects normal GCS, systolic BP, and respiratory rate. Any drop below 12 means at least one parameter deviated from normal, and many trauma protocols use a Triage RTS of 11 or below as one criterion for activating a trauma team or triaging to a trauma center. Lower weighted RTS values likewise indicate more deranged physiology and are associated, on a population level, with worse outcomes in the studies that derived the coefficients - a single score is not a prognosis for any one patient.

When to consult a professional

This tool performs the standard RTS arithmetic for education and documentation. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace clinical triage protocols or the judgment of trained trauma personnel. Any patient-care decision should rest with the treating clinicians, who consider the mechanism of injury, exam findings, and trends over time alongside the score.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Revised Trauma Score (RTS)?
The Revised Trauma Score is a physiological trauma severity score built from three coded vital-sign values: Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate. Each is scored 0 to 4 using fixed bands, then combined either as a simple sum (Triage RTS, 0 to 12) for field triage or as a weighted sum (RTS, 0 to 7.8408) used in outcome-prediction models such as TRISS.
How is the Revised Trauma Score calculated?
Each of the three inputs is converted to a coded value from 0 to 4 using bands published by Champion and colleagues in 1989. Triage RTS is the direct sum of the three codes (0-12). The weighted RTS multiplies the GCS code by 0.9368, the systolic BP code by 0.7326, and the respiratory rate code by 0.2908, then adds the three products (0-7.8408).
What do low Revised Trauma Score values mean?
Lower coded values indicate more deranged physiology in that parameter, and a lower total score indicates greater injury severity. A Triage RTS below 12 reflects some abnormality in GCS, systolic BP, or respiratory rate, and many trauma protocols use a Triage RTS of 11 or below as one criterion for trauma team activation. This tool performs the standard arithmetic only; it does not replace clinical triage judgment.

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