An epidemiological survey of orthopedic injury in 2010's Yushu earthquake

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the fractures that occurred in 2010's Yushu earthquake,Qinghai,China for better utilization and allocation of medical resources in the medical rescue in this earthquake-stricken area.Methods We conducted an epidemiological survey of the 582 orthopedic patients who had been injured in the 2010' s Yushu earthquake and transferred to hospitals in Xining city.Their clinical data were collected and analyzed to determine any association among gender,age,ethnic identity and fracture features (including location,type and complications) of these patients.Results Of the 582 fracture victims,males accounted for 48.3％ (281/582) and females 51.7％ (301/582).The proportions of different age groups in all these fracture patients were as follows:adults accounted for the largest (81.6％,475/582),next by the aged (12.4％,72/582),followed by children (5.8％,34/582) and last by infants (0.1％,7/582).Tibetan patients accounted for 85.1％ (495/582) and Han patients for 12.0％(70/582).The greatest majority of fractures were lower limb ones (26.3％,153/582),next by pelvic and acetabular ones (21.6％,126/582),and least by the hand injury (5.0％,29/582).There were significantly more female patients with a pelvic or acetabular fracture than male ones (P =0.O01),but there were no significant gender differences among patients with other fracture locations,types and complications (P ＞0.05).There were no significant differences regarding fracture location,type and complication among different age groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The fractured patients in the Yushu earthquake were mostly adults and mainly Tibetans.There was no proportional difference between males and females.There were no associations of fracture features with age or gender.The ratios of patients with open fracture and crush syndrome were relatively low because of the special housing structures in this area. Key words: Earthquake;  Injury;  Fracture, bone;  Yushu