CAISS STUDY GUIDE 2026 QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS

CAISS STUDY GUIDE 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS

◉ Injury descriptors are organized _________________________ ? Answer:
Anatomically


◉ Injury severity is ranked relative to its importance to
_______________? Answer: The whole body


◉ AIS reflects severity of single injuries and are unaffected by what
three things? Answer: 1) time
2) sequela
3) outcome


◉ What type of scale does AIS use? Answer: 6 point ordinal scale


◉ Which type of measurement is more variable? Anatomic or
Physiologic? Answer: Physiologic


◉ Is clinical training necessary for collecting injury data? Answer:
NO

,◉ AIS is based on what three (3) factors? Answer: 1) anatomically-
based
2) consensus driven
3) global


◉ Severity is NOT contingent upon what two (2) factors? Answer: 1)
Outcome
2) time


◉ Numerical ranking of severity: 1 Answer: minor


◉ Numerical ranking of severity: 2 Answer: moderate


◉ Numerical ranking of severity: 3 Answer: serious


◉ Numerical ranking of severity: 4 Answer: severe


◉ Numerical ranking of severity: 5 Answer: critical


◉ Numerical ranking of severity: 6 Answer: maximum (currently
untreatable)

,◉ Is mortality a sole determinant of AIS severity? Answer: NO


◉ Are all AIS data comparable from year to year? Answer: NO
(updates)


◉ Is "DEATH" part of the severity scale? Answer: NO


◉ Is a patient who dies automatically assigned the highest AIS
severity of 6? Answer: NO (patients w/ minor injuries can die)


◉ Does a linear relationship exist between AIS severity codes?
Answer: NO (AIS 4 is more, NOT twice as severe as AIS 2)


◉ Are all injuries within the same AIS code strictly compatible?
Answer: NO (tibia fx & alveolar ridge are both AIS - 2, although one
may be worse than the other, both are considered 'moderate')


◉ What AIS code is assigned to a patient with inadequate
information regarding an injury? Answer: 9


◉ AIS single digit severity codes are based on what type of patient?
Answer: Average

, ◉ What four (4) things define the "average" patient? Answer: 1) 25-
40 yrs old
2) no pre-existing conditions
3) no tx complications
4) received timely/appropriate care


◉ Approximately how many injury descriptors are included in AIS?
Answer: 2000


◉ What part of the AIS code is considered the "Pre-Dot Code?"
Answer: 6 digits BEFORE the decimal point (left)


◉ What part of the AIS code is considered the "AIS Severity
Number?" Answer: single digit after the decimal (right)


◉ (T/F) The 6 digit pre-dot codes are unique and allow for more
specificity and accurate coding? Answer: TRUE


◉ The first digit in the pre-dot code corresponds to what? Answer:
Body Region


◉ The second digit in the pre-dot code corresponds to what?
Answer: Type of anatomic structure (skeletal, solid organ)