Traumatic brain injury in Ya'an earthquake: a report of 69 cases / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the clinical features of patients with traumatic brain injury in the Ya' an earthquake and discuss the treatment experiences.Methods Medical records of 69 patients admitted from April 2013 to May 2013 because of traumatic brain injury in the Ya' an earthquake were collected.Retrospective review was performed for age,gender,causes of injury,time from injury to hospitalization,types of injury,associated injury,treatment methods and outcomes.Results There were 47 males and 22 females.Forty-two patients (61％) were injured from falling objects.Fifty-eight patients (84％) were sent to the West China Hospital within 72 hours postinjury.Twenty-two cases (32％) sustained associated injuries.Twenty-nine patients (42％) were critically injured.Twenty-four patients underwent operation at the local hospital and twelve patients had operation at our hospital.Outcome measure using GOS one month after treatment showed 55 favorable recovery,5 moderate disability,4 severe disability,and 5 coma.Conclusions Main cause of injury is hit by falling objects during the Ya' an earthquake.Majority of the patients obtained effective treatment in the time window.GCS in combination with patients' general condition used in casualty triage and critical patients charged by neurosurgeons and treated with the cooperation of multiple disciplinary teams are helpful to successful treatment.