title: Profile and procedures for fractures among 1323 fracture patients from the 2010 Yushu earthquake, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The injuries caused by earthquakes are often complex and of various patterns. Our study included all fracture inpatients from the Yushu earthquake (1323 in total), to learn more about the incidence and distribution of fractures during earthquakes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of the clinical characteristics of hospitalized fracture patients after the 2010 Yushu earthquake was conducted from December 20 to 25, 2010.We reviewed medical records of hospitalized patients who had been evacuated from the Yushu earthquake area between April 14 and June 15, 2010, from 57 hospitals, and also reviewed more than 100 documents assembled from daily medical rescue and disease prevention reports submitted by the frontline rescue organizations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 78.0% of fracture patients were admitted to the hospital within 3 days after the earthquake. There were 1323 patients who presented with 1539 fractures. The most common fracture occurred in the lower limbs, followed by spinal, pelvic, and shoulder-upper limb fractures. The end of the thoracic vertebra and the lumbar vertebra were the high-risk sites for vertebral fractures. A total of 38 patients became paraplegic. A 2-level spatial clustering was detected among the 193 patients presenting with 2 fractures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analysis profiles of the injuries and clinical features of patients with earthquake-related fractures will positively impact rescue efforts and the treatment of fracture injuries caused by possible future natural disasters. We should assemble orthopedic-related medications and surgical equipment, and allocate them promptly after a major earthquake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service, Faculty of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: kpkp315@163.com.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service, Faculty of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: mangotangbihan@126.com.
authors.forename: Bihan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service, Faculty of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: yawnlau@126.com.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service, Faculty of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: xuliuaqua@126.com.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service, Faculty of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: shenyansmmu@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service, Faculty of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: liuzhipeng__1987@sina.com.
authors.forename: Zhipeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Affairs, Second Artillery General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing, China. Electronic address: yanghongyangsmmu@sina.com.
authors.forename: Hongyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Service, Faculty of Health Service, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: zllrmit@163.com.
authors.forename: Lulu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064386:Ankle Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000069076:Fractures, Multiple / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D055815:Young Adult