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Original Article
Temporal and spatial characteristics and treatment strategies of traumatic brain injury in Wenchuan earthquake
  1. Jianwen Gu,
  2. Wentao Yang,
  3. Jingmin Cheng,
  4. Tao Yang,
  5. Yan Qu,
  6. Yongqin Kuang,
  7. Haidong Huang,
  8. Libin Yang,
  9. Weiqi He,
  10. Lu Min
  1. Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of People's Liberation Army Chengdu Military Region, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
  1. Correspondence to Dr Jianwen Gu, Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of People's Liberation Army Chengdu Military Region, Chengdu, Sichuan 610083, China; gujianwen2000{at}yahoo.com.cn

Abstract

Objective To analyse the temporal and spatial characteristics of traumatic brain injury and the distribution of combined injuries in the Wenchuan earthquake, and describe the treatment opportunities and preferences for therapy.

Methods The diagnosis and treatment of 92 patients with traumatic brain injury who survived the massive earthquake (magnitude 8) in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, on 12 May 2008 were systematically analysed.

Results The patients all came from the plains northwest of Chengdu city. Seventy-six patients were admitted during the early stage (within 12 h) after the earthquake. Ten patients underwent surgery and three patients died.

Conclusion Patients with traumatic brain injury during the early period accounted for a large proportion of the patients wounded in the Wenchuan earthquake, and their conditions changed quickly. The patients all came from the plain area which has convenient transportation. After admission, providing first-aid early had a significant effect on increasing the success of treatment for these patients.

  • Wenchuan
  • earthquake
  • traumatic brain injury
  • treatment
  • trauma
  • psychology

https://doi.org/10.1136/emj.2008.065342

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    Footnotes

      fn-1

    • Competing interest None.

      • fn-2

    • Ethics approval This study was approved by the General Hospital of People's Liberation Army Chengdu Military Region ethics committee.

      • fn-3

    • Patient consent Obtained.

      • fn-4

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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