title: Earthquake-related pelvic crush fracture vs. non-earthquake fracture on digital radiography and MDCT: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the features of earthquake-related pelvic crush fractures versus non-earthquake fractures with digital radiography and multidetector row computed tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty-seven survivors with pelvic crush fractures in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake were entered in our study as the earthquake-related group (139 underwent digital radiography, 28 underwent multidetector row computed tomography); 70 victims with non-earthquake pelvic fractures were enrolled into this study as the non-earthquake group (54 underwent digital radiography, 16 underwent multidetector row computed tomography). Data were reviewed retrospectively between groups, focusing on anatomic distributions, status of pelvic bone fractures, numbers of pelvic bones involved, and classification of pelvic ring fractures according to the Tile classification system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pelvic fractures occurred more frequently in the pubis in the earthquake-related group than in the non-earthquake group (135/167, 81% vs. 48/70, 69%). In addition, comminuted fractures were more common in the earthquake-related group than in the non-earthquake group (55/167, 33% vs. 10/70, 14%). Multiple fractures were less common in the earthquake-related group than in the non-earthquake group (81/167, 49% vs. 46/70, 66%). Regarding the classification of pelvic ring fractures, Type C predominantly composed of subtype C3 occurred more frequently (64/167, 38% vs. 12/70, 17%), and Type A was less common in the earthquake-related group than in the non-earthquake group (31/167, 19% vs. 23/70, 32%). All differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). No difference was found in Type B fractures between the groups (72/167, 43% vs. 35/70, 50%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Earthquake-related pelvic crush fractures can be characterized by a high incidence of pelvic fractures occurring in the pubis, comminuted fractures, and Type C fractures predominantly composed by subtype C3, despite a low incidence of multiple fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China.
authors.forename: Tian-wu
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi-hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Si-shi
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zhi-gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult