BackgroundMultiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in patients with major trauma remains a frequent and devastating complication in emergency departments and intensive care units. Easily and accurately identifying patients at risk for MODS post-injury, especially in multi-trauma cases, is important. The aim of this study was to develop an instrument to predict the development of MODS in adult multi-trauma patients using clinical and laboratory data available in the first 24 h after trauma. MethodsWe prospectively enrolled adult multi-trauma patients with Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥16, between 16 and 65 years old, admitted to four academic Level-I trauma centers for 1 year between September 2014 and 2015. Sequential organ failure assessment score was used to determine MODS during hospitalization. A risk score was created from the final regression model consisting of significant variables as MODS predictors. ResultDuring the period of the study, 98 multi-trauma patients were included. The mean age was 35.2 years, and most were male (85.71%). The mean ISS was 23.6, mostly (76.53%) caused by blunt injury mechanism. MODS occurred in 43 patients (43.87%). The prediction risk score consists of Revised Trauma Score (<7.25) and lactate level ≥2.75 mmol/L. This study also verified several independent risk factors for post-multi-trauma MODS such as ISS >25, presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, shock grade 2 or more, and white blood cells >12,000. ConclusionWe derived a novel simple and applicable instrument to predict MODS in adults following multi-trauma. The use of this scoring system may allow early identification of trauma patients who are at risk for MODS and result in more aggressive targeted resuscitation and damage control surgery. Trial registrationISCRTN ISRCTN16661943. 09/11/2016 retrospectively registered.