Table 1 Description of included studies

Enderson, 1990, Tennessee, USA

399 admitted trauma patients

Age>15 yrs: 86%

TTS as part of trauma admission form, conducted within 24–48 hours after patient stabilization

Missed injuries – defined as detected as a result of TTS. (Type I)

Prospective cohort study – comparing with historical summary data

Gender: N/A

Mechanism: 89%

Blunt Mean ISS: 21

Biffl, 2003

All admitted trauma patients.

Mean Age: 45.3 vs. 44.5 yrs

Implementation of formal TTS, using standardized form and TTS policy. TS within 24 hours and after ICU discharge

Missed injury rate – defined as injuries detected after 24 hours admission or injuries missed by TTS. (Type II)

Cohort study with before-and-after design

Rhode Island, USA

Before: 3,412

Gender: 63% vs. 64% Male

After: 3,442

Mechanism: N/A

Mean ISS: 10.7 vs. 10.7

Vles, 2003

All (3,879) admitted trauma patients

Age: N/A

Use of standard trauma forms, TTS and review of radiology within 24 hours

Missed injury rate – Any injury missed on primary and secondary survey. (Type I)

Prospective cohort study

The Netherlands

Gender: N/A

Mechanism: N/A

ISS>16: 1.2%

Hoff, 2004

432 admitted trauma patients

Age: N/A

Formal radiology rounds as part of TTS

Missed injury or ‘new diagnosis’ as result of radiology rounds with trauma surgeons. (Type I)

Prospective cohort study

Pennsylvania, USA

Gender: N/A

Mechanism: N/A

ISS: N/A

Soundappan, 2004

76 children admitted with ISS>9

Mean Age: 8.5 yrs

TTS performed using standardized from by trauma fellow on day after admission and after extubation

Missed injury rate – Any injury missed on primary and secondary survey. (Type I)

Prospective cohort study

Sydney, Australia

Gender: 66% Male

Mechanism: 100% Blunt

Mean ISS: 15

Howard, 2006

90 admitted trauma patients

Age: N/A

TTS performed using standardized from by single clinician within 24 hours

Missed injury rate – Any injury detected on the TTS. (Type I)

Prospective cohort study

Indianapolis, USA

Gender: 74% Male

Mechanism: N/A

ISS: N/A

Okello, 2007

403 admitted trauma patients

Mean Age: 29 yrs

Daily physical examination up to 30 days, including TTS in first 24 hours

Missed Injury – unclear definition – implied as injury detected after primary and secondary survey. (Type I)

Prospective cohort study

Uganda

Gender: 82% Male

Mechanism: 91% Blunt

ISS: N/A

Janjua, 2008

206 admitted trauma patients

Mean Age: 35 yrs

TTS performed by trauma fellow within 24 hours and after regaining consciousness

Missed injury rate – Any injury missed on primary and secondary survey and operating room. (Type I)

Prospective cohort study

Sydney, Australia

Gender: 75% Male

Mechanism: 91-100% Blunt

ISS: N/A

Ursic, 2009

All admitted trauma patients.

Mean Age: 43.4 vs. 44.4 yrs Gender: 69.4% vs 68.9% Male Mechanism:94.3 vs. 94.4% Blunt ISS>15: 26% vs 31%

Implementation of a dedicated trauma service, which included a formalised TTS

Mortality and Length of Hospital stay. Missed injury – not in article -data retrieved via author communication - any injury missed at primary and secondary survey. (Type I)

Cohort study with before-and-after design

Sydney, Australia

Before: 981

After: 1,006

Huynh, 2010

5,143 admitted trauma patients

Mean Age: 36.2 yrs

Mid level providers performed TTS using a form within 48 hours. This was reviewed by trauma surgeon

Missed injury – defined as detected at TTS. (Type I)

Prospective cohort study

North Carolina, USA

Gender: 71% Male

Mechanism: 85% Blunt

Mean ISS: 14.2