Comparative study of earthquake-related and non-earthquake-related head traumas using multidetector computed tomography

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:The features of earthquake-related head injuries may be different from those of injuries obtained in daily life because of differences in circumstances. We aim to compare the features of head traumas caused by the Sichuan earthquake with those of other common head traumas using multidetector computed tomography.METHODS:In total, 221 patients with earthquake-related head traumas (the earthquake group) and 221 patients with other common head traumas (the non-earthquake group) were enrolled in our study, and their computed tomographic findings were compared. We focused the differences between fractures and intracranial injuries and the relationships between extracranial and intracranial injuries.RESULTS:More earthquake-related cases had only extracranial soft tissue injuries (50.7% vs. 26.2%, RR = 1.9), and fewer cases had intracranial injuries (17.2% vs. 50.7%, RR = 0.3) compared with the non-earthquake group. For patients with fractures and intracranial injuries, there were fewer cases with craniocerebral injuries in the earthquake group (60.6% vs. 77.9%, RR = 0.8), and the earthquake-injured patients had fewer fractures and intracranial injuries overall (1.5±0.9 vs. 2.5±1.8; 1.3±0.5 vs. 2.1±1.1). Compared with the non-earthquake group, the incidences of soft tissue injuries and cranial fractures combined with intracranial injuries in the earthquake group were significantly lower (9.8% vs. 43.7%, RR = 0.2; 35.1% vs. 82.2%, RR = 0.4).CONCLUSION:As depicted with computed tomography, the severity of earthquake-related head traumas in survivors was milder, and isolated extracranial injuries were more common in earthquake-related head traumas than in non-earthquake-related injuries, which may have been the result of different injury causes, mechanisms and settings.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Earthquake-Related Head Injuries: A Systematic Review

“…Earthquake-related head injuries were more frequently associated with a soft tissue wound (50.7% versus 26.2%, relative risk [RR] = 1.9) and less frequently with intracranial hemorrhage (17.2% vs 50.7%, RR = 0.3) compared with non-earthquake-related head injuries. 14 Earthquake-related head injuries are likely to occur at a low velocity following an earthquake compared with traffic accidents. The mean injury severity score (ISS) was 6.6 for hospitalized patients with head injuries.…”

“…Among patients with head injuries who had multiple injuries, the other injuries were found to be as follows: cervical vertebral fracture (8.6%), thoracic vertebral fracture (22.9%), lumbar vertebral fracture (17.1%), rib fracture (28.6%), clavicle fracture (8.6%), and pulmonary contusion (5.7%). 14…”

“…In contrast, the proportion of patients with earthquake-related maxilla fracture (6.4%) was significantly lower than for that with non-earthquake-related maxilla facture (P < 0.05). 14 The most common type of intracranial hemorrhage was epidural hematoma (EDH), which accounted for 9.5% of inpatients with head injury across 9 studies, followed by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (7.0%) and subdural hematoma (SDH) (6.8%). In all except 2 small studies, the proportion of patients who developed EDH was higher than those who developed SDH.…”

Pediatrics in Clinics: Highlights

“…Frequency of occurrence in children was reported. Chu et al ( 32 ) compared the features of head traumas caused by the Sichuan earthquake with those of other common head traumas using multidetector computed tomography. They focused the differences between fractures and intracranial injuries and the relationships between extracranial and intracranial injuries.…”