Natural Disasters

Burke et al. 1993
N=42 (SCI)

Estimated injured=
150,000

Yerevan,
Armenia

Patients admitted to newly established SCI unit following Armenian earthquake on December 7, 1988.

No information given.

All patients with paraplegia.
Minor paralysis=35.7% (n=15)
Severe paralysis=64.3% (n=27)
Confined to a wheelchair=16.3% (n=7)
Mortality=5% (n=2)

Earth-quake:

0.03%
(n=42)

Chen et al. 2009
N=78

Estimated injured= >300,000

Sichuan, China

Treatment for spinal injuries in Chengdu hospital following May 12, 2008 earthquake (magnitude 8.0).

Males=51%
Mean age=42(7-84) years
Women=38 (49%)
No Mortality

Cervical=13 (11%)
Thoracic=48 (40%)
Lumbar=58 (49%)
Single level injuries=55 (71%)
Multiple level injuries=23 (29%)
Neurological disability=53.8%

Earth-quake:

0.03%
(n=78)

Dong et al. 2009
N=198(SCI)

Estimated injuries 374,643

Sichuan, China

Patients
admitted to hospital in Sichuan region with spinal injuries from earthquake (magnitude 8.0) on May 12 2008.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients injured by earthquake-related MVCs.

Not provided

Lumbar injuries = 55.3%
Thoracic injuries = 31.1%
Neurologic deficit in 65 patients:
Frankel Levels:
A=14 (7%)
B=8 (4%)
C=24 (12%)
D=19 (10%)

Earth-quake:

0.05%
(n=198)

Chang et al. 2000
N=5000

Estimated injuries= 420,000

Tangshan,
China

Individuals who sustained SCIs in the Tangshan earthquake (magnitude 7.8) on July 28,1976.

Sampled surveyed (n=105)
Males= 31.4%
Average age=46 (38-62) years.

T12/L1= 86.5% (n=64)

Earth-quake:

1.2%
(n=5000)

Maruo & Matumoto 1996
N=6 (SCI)

Estimated injured=
34,900

Hanshin region,
Japan

Interviews of patients suffering from spinal or truck injuries following the January 17, 1995 Hanshin earthquake (magnitude 7.2).

Patients surveyed n=230
Males=29.6%
Average age=62.9%

Frankel levels (n=6)
A=3
D=3
Most common levels of vertebral fracture (n=140)
T12=49 (29%)
L1=49 (29%)
L2=25 (15%)
L3=11 (6.5%)

Earth-quake:

0.02%
(n=6)

Tanaka et al. 1999
N= 29 (SCI)

Estimated Injured= 41,000

Hanshin region,
Japan

Survey of 53% of all hospital beds in Hanshin area in first 15 days following the January 17, 1995 earthquake (magnitude 7.2). Exclusion criteria:
Patients who were dead upon arrival to hospital.

Patients surveyed n=6107
Males=44%
Total mortality=527 (9%)
Mortality among SCI=1 (3%)al

Spinal cord injuries=29
Spinal fractures (n=414):
Cervical=18 (4%)
Thoracic=145 (35%)
Lumbar=251 (61%)

Earth-quake:

 0.07%
(n=29)

Raissi et al. 2007
N=54

Estimated injured=
23,000

Bam, Iran

SCI patients listed with Social Welfare Organization in Bam area and were injured in the December 6, 2003 earthquake (magnitude 6.8) in Bam, Iran

Patients surveyed n=54
Male=46%
Mean age=31.9±9.6 years

General injury level*:
Between T10 and T12=37
L2 and below=14
Incomplete=3
*(complete neurological level exam not possible)
Pain syndromes=52 (96%)

Earth-quake:

0.23% (n=54)

Naghi et al. 2005
N=210
N=6 (SCI)

Estimated injured= 30,000

Bam, Iran

Patients admitted to hospitals in Tehran with musculoskeletal injuries following earthquake on December 26, 2003 (magnitude 6.8).

Surveyed sample (n=210)
Male=42.4%
Mean age=30.2 (7-70) years.

Not provided

Earth-quake:

0.02%
(n=6)

Rathore et al. 2007
N=187

Estimated injured= 126,000

Northern
Pakistan

Patients with SCI from the earthquake (magnitude7.6) on October 8, 2005 in Rawalpindi.

Surveyed sample (n=187) Males=43%
Mean age=28.3±12.4 years

Complete paraplegia= 43% (n=81)
Incomplete paraplegia= 46% (n=86)
Incomplete tetraplegia=
5% (n=9)
No neurological deficit=
6% (n=11)

Earth-quake:

0.15%
(n=187)

Tauqir et al. 2006
N=194

Estimated injured= 100,000

Northern Pakistan

Admission to 4 hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad with SCI due to earthquake on October 8, 2005 (magnitude7.6).

Surveyed Sample (n=122)
Males=26%
16-39 years =77% (n=151)

Cervical=5 (3%)
Thoracic=48 (25%)
Lumbar=120 (62%)
Thoracolumbar=18 (9%)
Cervicothoracic=1
Lumbrosacral=1
Cord contusion=1

Earth-quake

0.19%
(n=194)