Crush syndrome sustained in Wenchuan earthquake:treatment and outcome / 中国矫形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

[Objective]To assess the early diagnosis and treatment and outcome of patients with crush syndrome in earthquake disaster.[Method]We conducted a retrospective analysis of 27 patients with crush syndrome and subsequent acute renal failure (ARF) and wound complication who were treated in our university hospital.All of patients had been extricated from buildings that collapsed in the Wenchuan earthquake.Crush injury involved the upper extremities and low extremities.Each patient received intravenous fluids and diuretic drugs.Twenty-one patients received hemodialysis.Emergency fasciotomy performed in 11 patients and amputation were performed in 16 patients,4 to 102 hours after extrication.[Result]No patient died.Twenty-one patients among the ARF patients were retracted from hemodialysis.Among the patients who were performed fasciotomy or amputation,13 patients had wound complication including infection,however,the wounds in 10 patients were healed by dressing change,debridement and coordinate treatment with ICU and related subjectives.[Conclusion]Crush syndrome requires urgent recognition and prompt surgical treatment with simultaneous measures to control hyperkalemia and ARF.Wound healing is a difficult task for the crush syndrome patients.The authors believe that immediate intensive care therapy and multisubjective coordination would improve the survival rate.