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Comparison of Injury Epidemiology Between the Wenchuan and Lushan Earthquakes in Sichuan, China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2014

Yang Hu ,
Xi Zheng ,
Yong Yuan ,
Qiang Pu ,
Lunxu Liu  and
Yongfan Zhao
Yang Hu
Affiliation:
Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Xi Zheng
Affiliation:
Lung Cancer Treatment Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 611135, China.
Yong Yuan
Affiliation:
Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Qiang Pu
Affiliation:
Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Lunxu Liu
Affiliation:
Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
Yongfan Zhao*
Affiliation:
Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Yongfan Zhao, Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, #37 Guoxue Alley, Wuhou District, Chengdu 610041, China (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Abstract

Objective

We aimed to compare injury characteristics and the timing of admissions and surgeries in the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 and the Lushan earthquake in 2013.

Methods

We retrospectively compared the admission and operating times and injury profiles of patients admitted to our medical center during both earthquakes. We also explored the relationship between seismic intensity and injury type.

Results

The time from earthquake onset to the peak in patient admissions and surgeries differed between the 2 earthquakes. In the Wenchuan earthquake, injuries due to being struck by objects or being buried were more frequent than other types of injuries, and more patients suffered injuries of the extremities than thoracic injuries or brain trauma. In the Lushan earthquake, falls were the most common injury, and more patients suffered thoracic trauma or brain injuries. The types of injury seemed to vary with seismic intensity, whereas the anatomical location of the injury did not.

Conclusions

Greater seismic intensity of an earthquake is associated with longer delay between the event and the peak in patient admissions and surgeries, higher frequencies of injuries due to being struck or buried, and lower frequencies of injuries due to falls and injuries to the chest and brain. These insights may prove useful for planning rescue interventions in trauma centers near the epicenter. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;8:541-547)

Keywords

earthquakeswounds and injuriestrauma centersdisaster medicinedisaster planning
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 8 , Issue 6 , December 2014 , pp. 541 - 547
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2014 

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Footnotes

Drs Hu and Zheng contributed equally to this work and should be regarded as co-first authors.

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