RESUMO
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To make a descriptive analysis of the frequency and the type of thorax and lung injuries among the casualties of the two devastating earthquakes that occurred in Turkey in 1999. DESIGN: Records of the hospitalized patients injured in the earthquakes were examined retrospectively. RESULTS: Among the total of 356 hospitalized patients, 21 (9.7%) in the Izmit earthquake and 6 (7.6%) in the Duzce earthquake had thorax and lung injuries. Pneumothorax and rib fractures were the two most frequent pathologies and accounted for 50% and 33.3% of the injuries, respectively. CONCLUSION: Approximately 10% of the casualties of a great earthquake may be expected to have thorax and lung injuries, and traumatic chest diseases should be considered in planning the medical response strategies.