Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS)
Anatomically-based severity scoring system for traumatic injuries. Codes each injury on a 6-point scale from minor (1) to maximum/unsurvivable (6). Foundation for Injury Severity Score (ISS) calculation.
Score interpretation
AIS 1. Minor injury. Not life threatening.
→ Standard care. Outpatient follow-up appropriate.
AIS 2. Moderate injury. Not life threatening.
→ In-hospital management. Orthopaedics/surgery review.
AIS 3. Serious, potentially life-altering injury.
→ Hospital admission. Surgery team review. ISS calculation for overall severity.
AIS 4. Severe, life-threatening injury.
→ Trauma team activation. Major trauma centre management.
AIS 5-6. Critical injury or unsurvivable.
→ Maximal trauma resuscitation. AIS 6 = unsurvivable — consider comfort care in appropriate context.
Interpretation bands for the AIS. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
- Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine. The Abbreviated Injury Scale 2005 — Update 2008. Barrington, IL: AAAM; 2008.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.