One disaster two traumas: Being under rubble and burn injuries in the 2023 Maras, Turkey earthquakes.

INTRODUCTION: On February 6, 2023, two separate destructive earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.5 occurred in Kahramanmaras, Türkiye. More than 50,000 people lost their lives, and over 100,000 were reported injured. In this study, patients referred to hospitals with burn diagnosis and management of burn wounds following the disaster were evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information on burn injury admissions related to the earthquake was collected from all burn facilities in the country within 15 days after the earthquake. The patients' demographics, being under rubble, rescue times, burn causes, grafting procedures, and deaths were recorded. RESULTS: Following the earthquake, burn victims were transferred to the 13 Burn Treatment Centers located in 10 provinces. A total of 191 patients were burned. Among the burn patients, 101 (52.9%) were rescued from the rubble 2-60 h after the earthquake. Eight patients who were hospitalized at the burn centers died. Scalding and flame burns were the most common etiologies. Burned total body surface area, concomitant crush injury, hospitalization, and mortality was higher among the patients trapped under rubble (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Victims who stayed longer time under the rubble required significantly more grafting procedures (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In a literature review, it was observed that there are a limited number of publications reporting earthquake-related burns. In the February, 6 Türkiye earthquake, flame burns were seen due to small fires that occurred in collapsed buildings during the earthquake. And also contact burns and hot liquid burns were seen in earthquake victims trapped under rubble. Bursting hot water pipes, overturned stoves, contact with hot central heating radiators, and heated construction irons caused scalding and contact burns. It is believed that prolonged entrapment may cause delays in burn treatment or lead to deeper burns due to prolonged contact with the burning agent, increasing hospitalization rates. This earthquake once again drew attention to burn injuries that could occur during and after earthquakes, including those that may occur under rubble.

Mortality Factors in Crush Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Crush Syndrome is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following large-scale catastrophic earthquakes. Since there are no randomized controlled studies on Crush Syndrome, knowledge on this subject is limited to expert experience. The primary objective is to analyze the epidemiological and demographic characteristics, clinical outcomes, and mortality factors of earthquake victims after the Pazarcik and Elbistan earthquakes on February 6, 2023. METHODS: This cross-sectional and observational retrospective study evaluated 610 earthquake victims who presented to our center between February 6 and April 30, 2023. Among these patients, 128 with Crush Syndrome were included in the study. Patient information was gathered from hospital records during their stay and from national registries upon referral. The primary outcome was to identify risk factors for mortality. Demographic and laboratory data were analyzed by acute kidney injury (AKI) stages; mortality-affecting factors were identified through regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 128 Crush Syndrome patients (100 adults, 28 children), 64 were female. The AKI rate was 32.8%. Among patients with AKI, the frequency of hemodialysis requirement was 69%, and the mortality rate was 14.2%. The overall mortality rate for patients with Crush Syndrome was 4.6%, compared to 3.9% (19/482) in earthquake victims without Crush Syndrome (p=0.705). Notably, low systolic blood pressure at admission was the only factor significantly affecting mortality in Crush Syndrome patients (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 1.088, p=0.021, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]). CONCLUSION: Our study highlights low systolic blood pressure upon admission as a significant risk factor for increased mortality in Crush Syndrome patients. This finding may contribute to the literature by emphasizing the importance of monitoring blood pressure under rubble and administering more aggressive fluid therapy to patients with low systolic blood pressure.

Factors affecting the mortality of February earthquakes victims in Türkiye.

OBJECTIVE: >50,000 people died in the February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye. The aim of this study was to identify the factors affecting mortality rates of the trauma patients who were presented to the emergency department (ED) after the earthquake and provide suggestions for better preparedness strategies for future natural disasters. METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study encompassed data from 955 trauma patients out of 3072 patients aged 18 years and above who sought assistance in the ED. Patients were divided into two groups: the survivor group and the exitus group. Age, gender, the city where patients came from, type of presentation, injured organ systems and mechanisms of injury, laboratory findings, the diagnoses in the ED, time spent in the ED, surgical intervention, and hemodialysis sessions were analyzed. The characteristics of those who could not be identified at the presentation to the ED were subjected to additional analysis. RESULTS: Out of 955 patients, 75.9% had extremity injuries, with crushing injuries (23.6%) being predominant. There were no significant differences in age or gender between the survivor and exitus groups (p = 0.776, p = 0.522), nor in the province of admission (p = 0.249). Clinical factors indicated that the exitus group were more likely to lack identification documents (29.6%), have spent longer trapped under debris, and have a higher frequency of ambulance transportation. Injuries such as chest and abdominal trauma, specific injury types, and amputation or open wounds were notably more frequent in the exitus group. Diagnoses revealed that metabolic causes were more common in exitus group (p < 0.001). While no significant difference existed in the need for emergency surgical intervention (p = 0.939), a higher frequency of emergency hemodialysis was observed among exitus group (p = 0.001). Laboratory findings indicated higher levels of various markers and lower calcium, base excess, and pH levels among those in the exitus group. CONCLUSION: In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake, this study underscores the formidable challenges faced by healthcare systems during natural disasters. To prepare for future disasters, healthcare systems must enhance resilience, develop rapid identification techniques, and adopt a holistic patient care approach.

The prevalence of double- and multiple crush syndromes in patients surgically treated for peripheral nerve compression in the upper limb.

OBJECTIVE: The double crush syndrome describes a condition characterized by multifocal entrapment of a nerve. In the upper limb, the high prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome makes it a common diagnosis of assumption in the setting of median neuropathy. More proximal compressions may tend to be overlooked, under-diagnosed and under-treated in the population. This study aims to map the prevalence of peripheral upper limb nerve compressions among patients undergoing peripheral nerve decompression. METHODS: A prospective case series was conducted on 183 patients undergoing peripheral nerve decompression in a private hand surgery clinic. Level(s) of nerve compression in the median, ulnar and radial nerves were determined by history and physical examination. The prevalence of each nerve compression syndrome or combination of syndromes was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 320 upper limbs in 183 patients were analyzed. A double crush of the median nerve at the levels of the lacertus fibrosus and carpal tunnel was identified in 78% of upper limbs with median neuropathy, whereas isolated lacertus syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome were present in only 5% and 17% of affected limbs respectively. Cubital tunnel syndrome affected 12.5% of upper limbs, and 80% of these had concomitant lacertus and carpal tunnel syndromes, compared to only 7.5% with isolated cubital tunnel syndrome. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence should prompt clinicians towards more routine assessment for double crush syndrome to avoid misdiagnosis, inadequate treatment, recurrence, and revision surgeries.

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Earthquake Victims Presented to the Emergency Department with and without Crush Injury upon the 2023 Kahramanmaras (Turkey) Earthquake.

INTRODUCTION: Earthquakes are sudden-onset natural disasters that are associated with substantial material damage, resulting in the collapse of built environment with a high rate of mortality, injury, and disability. Crush syndrome, which can be seen after devastating earthquakes, can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) and patients may require amputation, fasciotomy, and dialysis. Supportive treatment has an important role in the prognosis of these patients. STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of traumatic earthquake survivors admitted to the emergency department (ED) of a hospital, which was close to the earthquake zone but not affected by the earthquake, after the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaras (Turkey) earthquakes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted by retrospectively analyzing the data of 1,110 traumatized earthquake survivors admitted to the ED of a tertiary care university hospital from February 6th through February 20th, 2023. Age; gender; time of presentation; presence of comorbid diseases; ED triage category; duration of stay under debris; presence of additional trauma; laboratory tests; presence of AKI; presence of crush injury and injury sites; supportive treatment (fluid replacement and intravenous [IV] sodium bicarbonate); need for amputation, dialysis, and fasciotomy; duration of hospitalization; and outcome of ED were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 1,110 traumatic victims in this study, 55.5% were female patients. The mean age of the patients was 45.94 (SD = 16.7) years; the youngest was 18 years old and the oldest was 95 years old. Crush injury was detected in 18.8% and AKI in 3.0% of the patients. Dialysis, amputation, and fasciotomy were required in 1.6%, 2.8%, and 1.4% of the patients, respectively. In total, 29.2% of patients were hospitalized, including 2.9% admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and 26.3% to the relevant ward. In total, 0.3% of the patients included in the study died at ED. CONCLUSION: Post-earthquake patients may present with crush injury, AKI may develop, and fasciotomy, amputation, and dialysis may be needed, so hospitals and EDs should be prepared for natural disasters such as earthquakes.

Double crush syndrome: Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment results.

BACKGROUND: Double Crush Syndrome (DCS) is a clinical condition that involves multiple compression sites along a single peripheral nerve. The present study aims to describe the epidemiology of DCS and surgical results. METHODS: A retrospective observational analytic study included patients with clinical diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome who underwent surgery between January 2009 and January 2019. General demographic characteristics were noted, and 3 groups were distinguished: spinal surgery, carpal tunnel release, and bimodal decompression (BD); statistical differences were analyzed between them. RESULTS: The sample comprised 32 patients. DCS prevalence was 10.29%. Mean age at presentation was 59.25±10.98 years. There was female predominance (75%). Paresthesia was the main symptom (65.6%). Post-surgical results of BD showed significant improvement in sensory nerve conduction velocity, motor nerve conduction velocity (both P=0.008), and disability on Douleur Neuropathique 4 questions, Neck Disability Index, and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (P=0.001, 0.004, 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis and management of DCS are a challenge. It is necessary to determine the site with maximal compression and risk of complications to decide on treatment. If first-line surgery is adequate, proximal and distal symptomatology can be improved. To maximize success, we recommend BD, according to the present results.

Acute kidney injury following traumatic rhabdomyolysis in Kermanshah earthquake victims; A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Rhabdomyolysis induced acute kidney injury (AKI) develops due to leakage of the potentially nephrotoxic intracellular content into the circulation. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predictive factors of AKI in Kermanshah earthquake victims. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on victims of 2017 Kermanshah earthquake, Iran, who were admitted in Kermanshah and Tehran Hospitals. Data of the hospitalized patients were gathered and the prevalence of rhabdomyolysis induced AKI was studied. In addition, correlations of various clinical and laboratory variables with rhabdomyolysis induced AKI were assessed. RESULTS: 370 hospitalized patients with the mean age of 39.24 ± 20.32 years were studied (58.6% female). 10 (2.7% of all admitted) patients were diagnosed with AKI. Time under the rubble (p < .0001), serum level of creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) (p < .001), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p < .0001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p = .001) and uric acid (p = .003) were significantly higher in patients with AKI. Area under the ROC curves of CPK, LDH, AST, and uric acid for predicting the risk of developing AKI were 0.883 (95% CI: 0.816-0.950), 0.865 (95% CI: 0.758-0.972), 0.846 (95% CI: 0.758-0.935), and 0.947 (95% CI: 0.894-0.100), respectively. The best cutoff points for CPK, LDH, AST, and uric acid in this regard were 1656 IU/L, 839.5 U/L, 46.00 IU/L, and 5.95 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: The rate of traumatic rhabdomyolysis induced AKI development was estimated to be 2.7%. Time under the rubble and serum levels of CPK, LDH, AST, and uric acid were identified as the most important predictive factors of AKI development.

Acute Kidney Injury in Active Wars and Other Man-Made Disasters.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequent during wars and other man-made disasters, and contributes significantly to the overall death toll. War-related AKI may develop as a result of polytrauma, traumatic bleeding and hypovolemia, chemical and airborne toxin exposure, and crush syndrome. Thus, prerenal, intrinsic renal, or postrenal AKI may develop at the battlefield, in field hospitals, or tertiary care centers, resulting not only from traumatic, but also nontraumatic, etiologies. The prognosis usually is unfavorable because of systemic and polytrauma-related complications and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. Measures for decreasing the risk of AKI include making preparations for foreseeable disasters, and early management of polytrauma-related complications, hypovolemia, and other pathogenetic mechanisms. Transporting casualties initially to field hospitals, and afterward to higher-level health care facilities at the earliest convenience, is critical. Other man-made disasters also may cause AKI; however, the number of patients is mostly lower and treatment possibilities are broader than in war. If there is no alternative other than prolonged field care, the medical community must be prepared to offer health care and even perform dialysis in austere conditions, which in that case, is the only option to decrease the death toll resulting from AKI.

Forklift-Related Crush Injuries of the Foot and Ankle.

BACKGROUND: Forklift-related crush injuries of the foot and ankle are relatively common in cities with shipping and construction industries. There is a paucity of literature on the incidence and sequelae of such injuries. We aimed to describe the incidence, patterns of injuries, sequelae, and morbidity associated with this type of injury. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients with forklift-related crush injuries of the foot and ankle for 4 years was conducted. Patients' demographics, mechanisms and patterns of injury, fracture type, compartment syndrome, number of reconstructive operations, operative details, length of hospital stay, medical leave, repeat evaluation in emergency room, and complications were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 113 (2.17%) patients with forklift-related crush injuries out of 5209 patients seen in our institution for injuries of the foot and ankle. Crush injury from the wheels of the forklift truck was the most common mechanism at 71 (62.8%) patients. The forefoot was the most commonly injured region, followed by the midfoot, hindfoot, and ankle, with almost one-third (28.3%) of the patients having multiple injuries to the foot. Nine (8%) had open fractures, while 5 (4.4%) had compartment syndromes. Forty (35.4%) patients required hospitalization, and 35 (87.5%) of those hospitalized required operative intervention. Those who had surgery were more likely to have complications compared with those who did not require operative intervention (16 [45.7%] of 35 patients vs 7 [9%] of 78 patients; P < .05) and more likely to require longer medical leave (mean, 183 vs 30 days, P < .05). CONCLUSION: Forklift-related crush injuries of the foot and ankle are increasingly common in industrialized cities. The forefoot is commonly affected with involvement of multiple regions. Up to one-third of affected patients required hospitalization and multiple operative interventions resulting in loss of productivity, income, and significant morbidity. The possibility of residual disabilities must be clearly defined to the patients and their employers to manage potential workplace limitations and long-term expectations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV retrospective case series.

Community v. non-community assault among adults in Khayelitsha, Western Cape, South Africa: a case count and comparison of injury severity.

BACKGROUND: Community assault (CA) or vigilantism is widespread in the township of Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa (SA). Anecdotal evidence suggests that victims of CA are worse off than other assault cases. However, scientific data on the rate and severity of CA cases are lacking for SA. OBJECTIVES: To contribute to CA prevention and management strategies by estimating the rate of CA among adults in Khayelitsha and comparing the injury severity and survival probability between cases of CA and other assault (non-CA) cases. METHODS: We studied four healthcare centres in Khayelitsha during July - December 2012. A consecutive case series was conducted to capture all CA cases during this period. A retrospective folder review was performed on all cases of CA and on a control group of non-CA cases to compare injury severity and estimate survival probability. RESULTS: A total of 148 adult cases of CA occurred (case rate 1.1/1 000 person-years) over the study period. The Injury Severity Scores (ISSs) in the CA group were significantly higher than in the non-CA group (p < 0.001), with a median (interquartile range) ISS of 3 (2 - 6) in CA cases v. 1 (1 - 2) in non-CA cases. Comparison between the CA v. non-CA groups showed that a Glasgow Coma Scale < 15 (20.1% v. 5.4%, respectively), referral to the tertiary hospital (33.8% v. 22.6%, respectively), and crush syndrome (25.7% v. 0.0%, respectively) were all more common in CA cases. Survival probabilities were similar in both groups (CA v. non-CA 99.2% v. 99.3%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The rate of CA among adults in Khayelitsha is high, and the severity of injuries sustained by CA victims is substantially higher than in other assault cases.

The Christchurch earthquake: dialysis experience and emergency planning.

On 22 February 2011, a large earthquake struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand. There was extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. The following day 42 haemodialysis patients were flown to Auckland where they acutely dialysed through the efforts of the Auckland, Waitemata and Counties-Manukau dialysis team. Patients and support people were subsequently distributed to a designated Upper North Island District Health Board for longer-term ongoing dialysis care. The last evacuated haemodialysis patient returned to Christchurch on 9 May 2011. Surprisingly there was a dearth of crush syndrome patients requiring dialysis. The evacuation and reception of a large number of dialysis patients was a novel experience for the New Zealand dialysis community. A planning guide for dialysis emergency is available to assist with similar future natural disasters.

[Comparative analysis of the clinical characteristics of orthopedic inpatients in Lushan and Wenchuan earthquakes].

OBJECTIVE: To systematically analyze and compare the clinical characteristics of orthopedic inpatients in Lushan and Wenchuan earthquake, so as to provide useful references for future earthquakes injury rescue. METHODS: Based on the orthopedic inpatients in Lushan and Wenchuan earthquakes, the data of the age, gender, injury causes, body injured parts and speed of transport were classified and compared. RESULTS: The duration of patients admitted to hospital lasted long and the peak appeared late in Wenchuan earthquake, which is totally opposed to Lushan earthquake. There was no significant difference in the patient's age and gender between the two earthquakes. However, the occurrence rate of crush syndrome, amputation, gas gangrene, vascular injury and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in Wenchuan earthquake was much higher than that in Lushan earthquake. Blunt traumas or crush-related injuries (79.6%) are the major injury cause in Wenchuan earthquake, however, high falling injuries and falls (56.8%) are much higher than blunt trauma or crush-related injuries (39.2%) in Lushan earthquake. The incidence rate of foot fractures, spine fractures and multiple fractures in Lushan earthquake was higher than that in Wenchuan earthquake, but that of open fractures and lower limb fractures was lower than that in Wenchuan earthquake. CONCLUSION: The rapid rescue scene is the cornerstone of successful treatment, early rescue and transport obviously reduce the incidence of the wound infection, crush syndrome, MODS and amputation. Popularization of correct knowledge of emergency shelters will help to reduce the damage caused by blindly jumping or escaping while earthquake happens.

Mutual abrasion of endocardial leads: analysis of explanted leads.

BACKGROUND: Abrasion of the outer insulation in crush syndrome and in the pocket region is a common cause of endocardial lead failure. Lead fracture at the level of the tricuspid valve has also been described. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined 1,212 endocardial leads removed percutaneously from 700 patients. The average time the leads had been in place was 77.3 ± 55.9 months. Macroscopic examination revealed abrasion of the outer insulation with exposure of the metal conductor in the intracardiac parts of 199 leads removed from 177 patients. Lead abrasion was confirmed by examination with an optical microscope. Multivariate analysis showed that the phenomenon was associated with the number of extracted leads, the time the leads had been in place, infections of the cardiovascular electronic device, location of the lead in the coronary sinus, and excessive lead length. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the described mechanical abrasion of the outer lead insulation in the heart chambers could result from mutual friction. It is highly likely that intracardiac lead abrasion might play a role in the formation of intracardiac vegetation and lead-dependent endocarditis.

Medical evacuation management and clinical characteristics of 3,255 inpatients after the 2010 Yushu earthquake in China.

BACKGROUND: A catastrophic earthquake struck the Yushu prefecture of China's Qinghai province on April 14, 2010. Supported by the China National Ministry of Health, this study performed a detailed medical analysis of injuries and diseases, based on comprehensive medical data of hospitalized patients to share the experiences and lessons learned from emergency medical aid operations in high-altitude regions. METHODS: To survey the management of medical relief, more than 10 interviews with rescuers were held and more than 100 documents were reviewed. Medical records of 3,255 patients from 57 hospitals were analyzed retrospectively. Patient demographic data, complaints, diagnoses, prognoses, injury types, dispositions, and means of transportation were all reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 3,255 patients were admitted to hospitals. Of these, 1,426 (43.8%) were middle-aged (31-50 years), 2,574 (79.07%) were transported by plane, and the first 3 days were the peak period for air transportation. The records of 2,622 patients with earthquake-related injuries were analyzed, and 1,775 (68.32%) of them were admitted to hospital within the first 3 days. Bone fractures were diagnosed in 1,431 (55.08%) patients and crush syndrome was observed in 23 (0.89%). Illnesses accounted for 657 patients who were admitted to surveyed hospitals. Of these, 143 (20.63%) suffered from respiratory diseases and 259 (39.97%) from acute high-altitude sickness. Of the latter, 224 (86.49%) were rescuers. The overall mortality rate was 0.2% (7 of 3,255). Four patients died from earthquake-related injuries and three from other illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: A devastating earthquake occurring in a remote, high-altitude region presented a variety of challenges for external medical aid. Air transportation for those with severe injuries and diseases played a crucial role in decreasing the mortality and morbidity. It is necessary for hospitals to initiate effective emergency measures while facing the peak admission flow within the initial 72-hour period. Characteristic factors such as high altitude, low-oxygen content, local construction features, and lifestyle may contribute to complex injuries and illnesses. More attention should be paid to medical aid training for rescuers, and effective measures should be developed to deal with destructive natural disasters occurring in special geographical environments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiological study, level III.

Orthopaedic injury analysis in the 2010 Yushu, China earthquake.

OBJECTIVE: By analysing the injuries of the orthopaedic wounded during the 2010 Yushu earthquake, we aim to provide useful medical information for the rational application and allocation of medical resources and better implementation of medical relief in earthquake-stricken areas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five hundred and eighty-two orthopaedic patients injured during the earthquake. The clinical data, injury conditions and epidemiological features (including age composition, gender ratio, distribution of injury, etc.) were collected and analysed. RESULTS: Altogether 582 orthopaedic patients were analysed. The average age for all patients was 38.8±13.08 years (0-86 years). Adults accounted for 81.62%. There was no gender difference. The most common injuries included limb fractures, pelvic/acetabular fractures and spinal fractures. Fractures accompany with nerve injury were relatively low, only 17 patients account for 2.92%. Fractures complicated by crush syndrome were even lower, only 7 patients account for 1.20%. CONCLUSION: The patients who experienced fractures in the Yushu earthquake were mostly adults. This was correlated with population composition in Yushu area. This time all the orthopaedic injuries were relative mild with less complication as nerve injury or crush syndrome mainly because of the characteristics of the house structure in Yushu area.

The clinical features and outcome of crush patients with acute kidney injury after the Wenchuan earthquake: differences between elderly and younger adults.

BACKGROUND: On May 12, 2008, a devastating earthquake hit Wenchuan county of China's Sichuan province. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most lethal but reversible complications of crush syndrome after an earthquake. However, little is known about the epidemiological features of elderly crush patients with AKI. The aim of the present study is to compare clinical features and outcome of crush related AKI between elderly and younger adults in the Wenchuan earthquake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to 17 reference hospitals that treated the victims after the earthquake. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of crush patients with AKI were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: 228 victims experienced crush related AKI, of which 211 were adults, including 45 elderly (age ≥ 65 years) and 166 younger adults (age, 15-64 years). Compared with the resident population, the percentage of patients was higher amongst elderly (19.7% versus 7.6%, P<0.001). The distribution of gender was similar in elderly and younger adults. Mean systolic blood pressure was higher in elderly groups. Although no statistical differences in number of injury and injury severity score were observed between elderly and younger adults, elderly victims had lower frequency of extremities crush injury; higher incidences of thoracic traumas, limb, rib, and vertebral fractures; lower serum creatinine, potassium and creatinine kinase levels; lower incidence of oliguria or anuria; lower dialysis requirement; underwent less fasciotomies and amputations, received less blood and plasma transfusions. Mortality were 17.8% and 10.2% in elderly and younger adults, respectively (P=0.165). Stratified analysis demonstrated the elderly receiving dialysis had higher mortality rate compared with younger patients (62.5% versus 10.5%, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that need for dialysis and sepsis were independent risk factors for death in the elderly patients. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly crush victims more frequently developed AKI in the Wenchuan earthquake, and they differ from younger adults in injury patterns and treatment modalities. The elderly patients with AKI requiring dialysis were at a relatively high risk of mortality.

Clinical characteristics and electrodiagnostic features in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, double crush syndrome, and cervical radiculopathy.

Similar unilateral neck and upper limb symptoms are often due to various entrapment neuropathies; carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and cervical radiculopathy (CR) are common causes among them. Therefore, we investigated the clinical characteristics and electrodiagnostic features of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, and both conditions, called double crush syndrome (DCS). The medical records and electrodiagnostic reports of 866 patients with suspected CTS and CR visited a tertiary-care hospital were retrospectively analyzed. After excluding 101 patients with confounding conditions, 151 (20%) patients were diagnosed to have sole cases of CTS; 362 (47%) patients were diagnosed to have sole cases of CR; 198 (26%) patients were diagnosed to have DCS, while 54 (7%) patients had mere symptoms. Sole cases of CR had the highest incidences of neck pain, upper back pain, wrist and hand weakness. Female patients had the highest incidences of all the diseases in their sixth decade. Male patients had comparably distinguished high occurrence of all the diseases in their fifth to sixth decades. Although comparison of nerve conduction studies between patients with mere symptoms and patients with sole cases of CTS or DCS showed statistical differences, comparison between the latter two revealed no difference. We found most patients referred for electrodiagnostic studies had cervical radiculopathy. High concomitant occurrence of CTS and CR suggests cautious evaluation of patients with upper limb symptoms is important, because the management of these conditions is quite different.

The double crush syndrome revisited--a Delphi study to reveal current expert views on mechanisms underlying dual nerve disorders.

A high prevalence of dual nerve disorders is frequently reported. How a secondary nerve disorder may develop following a primary nerve disorder remains largely unknown. Although still frequently cited, most explanatory theories were formulated many years ago. Considering recent advances in neuroscience, it is uncertain whether these theories still reflect current expert opinion. A Delphi study was conducted to update views on potential mechanisms underlying dual nerve disorders. In three rounds, seventeen international experts in the field of peripheral nerve disorders were asked to list possible mechanisms and rate their plausibility. Mechanisms with a median plausibility rating of ≥7 out of 10 were considered highly plausible. The experts identified fourteen mechanisms associated with a first nerve disorder that may predispose to the development of another nerve disorder. Of these fourteen mechanisms, nine have not previously been linked to double crush. Four mechanisms were considered highly plausible (impaired axonal transport, ion channel up or downregulation, inflammation in the dorsal root ganglia and neuroma-in-continuity). Eight additional mechanisms were listed which are not triggered by a primary nerve disorder, but may render the nervous system more vulnerable to multiple nerve disorders, such as systemic diseases and neurotoxic medication. Even though many mechanisms were classified as plausible or highly plausible, overall plausibility ratings varied widely. Experts indicated that a wide range of mechanisms has to be considered to better understand dual nerve disorders. Previously listed theories cannot be discarded, but may be insufficient to explain the high prevalence of dual nerve disorders.

Crush syndrome and acute kidney injury in the Wenchuan Earthquake.

BACKGROUND: The Wenchuan Earthquake resulted in calamitous destruction and massive death. We report the characteristics of crush syndrome (CS) and acute kidney injury (AKI) brought by the earthquake, which took place in a mountainous area. METHODS: We conducted a cross-section survey of total 2,316 consecutive admissions because of seismic trauma, of which 1,827 had complete data available after we excluded those victims with mild injuries. The characteristics of CS and AKI in the mountainous earthquake were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 149 patients (8.2%) were diagnosed with CS. They had various complications, including different kinds of infection or sepsis, AKI, hematological abnormality, adult respiratory distress syndrome, congestive heart failure, multiple organs dysfunction syndrome, etc. The incidence of hyperkalemia was 15.9% in patients with CS. The hyperkalemia relapsed in five patients after hemodialysis in the first 3 days. AKI occurred in 62 patients (41.6% of CS patients) with CS and 33 of them received renal replacement therapy. In our hospital, 5 of them died. The overall mortality rate was 1.0% and mortality of patients with CS was 6.7%. Twelve patients (50%) died in the first 3 days. CONCLUSIONS: Although the mountains hampered rescue actions, causing more loss of life, CS and AKI were still common and life-threatening events in the Wenchuan Earthquake. Most patients with CS and/or AKI had severe complications, especially hyperkalemia.