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World J Radiol. May 28, 2011; 3(5): 135-140
Published online May 28, 2011. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v3.i5.135
Abdominal crush injury in the Sichuan earthquake evaluated by multidetector computed tomography
Tian-Wu Chen, Zhi-Gang Yang, Zhi-Hui Dong, Heng Shao, Zhi-Gang Chu, Si-Shi Tang
Tian-Wu Chen, Zhi-Gang Yang, Zhi-Hui Dong, Heng Shao, Zhi-Gang Chu, Si-Shi Tang, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Tian-Wu Chen, Sichuan Province Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging, and Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Chen TW, Yang ZG, Dong ZH, Shao H, Chu ZG and Tang SS designed the research; Chen TW, Dong ZH, Shao H and Chu ZG performed the research; Yang ZG and Tang SS contributed analytic tools; Chen TW, Dong ZH and Chu ZG analyzed the data; Chen TW and Yang ZG wrote the paper; Chen TW, Yang ZG, Dong ZH, Shao H, Chu ZG and Tang SS revised the paper.
Supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30870688 and the Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Sichuan Province, No. 2010JQ0039
Correspondence to: Zhi-Gang Yang, MD, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 37# Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. yangzg1117@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-28-85423817 Fax: +86-28-85423817
Received: February 20, 2011
Revised: March 24, 2011
Accepted: May 1, 2011
Published online: May 28, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the features of abdominal crush injuries resulting from an earthquake using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

METHODS: Fifty-one survivors with abdominal crush injuries due to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake underwent emergency non-enhanced scans with 16-row MDCT. Data were reviewed focusing on anatomic regions including lumbar vertebrae, abdominal wall soft tissue, retroperitoneum and intraperitoneal space; and types of traumatic lesions.

RESULTS: Fractures of lumbar vertebrae and abdominal wall soft tissue injuries were more common than retro- and intraperitoneal injuries (P < 0.05). With regard to the 49 lumbar vertebral fractures in 24 patients, these occurred predominantly in the transverse process (P < 0.05), and 66.67% of patients (16/24) had fractures of multiple vertebrae, predominantly two vertebrae in 62.5% of patients (10/16), mainly in L1-3 vertebrae in 81.63% of the vertebrae (40/49). Retroperitoneal injuries occurred more frequently than intraperitoneal injuries (P < 0.05), and renal and liver injuries were most often seen in the retroperitoneum and in the intraperitoneal space, respectively (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Transverse process fractures in two vertebrae among L1-3 vertebrae, injury of abdominal wall soft tissue, and renal injury might be features of earthquake-related crush abdominal injury.

Keywords: Abdominal injury; Crush injury; Earthquake; Multidetector computed tomography