title: Retrospective cohort analysis of chest injury characteristics and concurrent injuries in patients admitted to hospital in the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes in Sichuan, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare retrospectively the characteristics of chest injuries and frequencies of other, concurrent injuries in patients after earthquakes of different seismic intensity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the cause, type, and body location of chest injuries as well as the frequencies of other, concurrent injuries in patients admitted to our hospital after the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes in Sichuan, China. We explored possible relationships between seismic intensity and the causes and types of injuries, and we assessed the ability of the Injury Severity Score, New Injury Severity Score, and Chest Injury Index to predict respiratory failure in chest injury patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of chest injuries was 9.9% in the stronger Wenchuan earthquake and 22.2% in the less intensive Lushan earthquake. The most frequent cause of chest injuries in both earthquakes was being accidentally struck. Injuries due to falls were less prevalent in the stronger Wenchuan earthquake, while injuries due to burial were more prevalent. The distribution of types of chest injury did not vary significantly between the two earthquakes, with rib fractures and pulmonary contusions the most frequent types. Spinal and head injuries concurrent with chest injuries were more prevalent in the less violent Lushan earthquake. All three trauma scoring systems showed poor ability to predict respiratory failure in patients with earthquake-related chest injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previous studies may have underestimated the incidence of chest injury in violent earthquakes. The distributions of types of chest injury did not differ between these two earthquakes of different seismic intensity. Earthquake severity and interval between rescue and treatment may influence the prevalence and types of injuries that co-occur with the chest injury. Trauma evaluation scores on their own are inadequate predictors of respiratory failure in patients with earthquake-related chest injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Fan
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D055866:Earthquakes / Q000266:history*; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*