Analysis of 2,702 traumatized patients in the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji earthquake.

BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to define the factors that affected the final outcome of trauma patients in the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. METHODS Medical records of patients admitted to 95 hospitals within or surrounding the affected area during the first 15 days after the quake were reviewed. RESULTS There were 2,702 traumatized patients. One-third of the patients were transported to hospitals in the surrounding area and had a mortality rate of 3%. The remainder, who were treated in the affected hospitals, showed a significantly higher mortality rate (8%; p < 0.05). Intensive care was provided for 513 patients, most of whom suffered from crush syndrome or from injuries to vital organs; these patients had a high mortality rate. Patients with other types of injuries had a lower mortality rate. CONCLUSION Crush syndrome and injuries to vital organs were potentially life-threatening. We believe that early transportation of such patients to undamaged hospitals with the ability to provide intensive care would have improved the survival rate.