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Injury Patterns After the Landslide Disaster in Oshima, Tokyo, Japan on October 16, 2013

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2016

Yasuhiro Homma Open the ORCID record for Yasuhiro Homma [Opens in a new window] ,
Taiji Watari ,
Tomonori Baba ,
Misako Suzuki ,
Tadanori Shimizu ,
Yuji Fujii ,
Yuji Takazawa ,
Yuichiro Maruyama  and
Kazuo Kaneko
Yasuhiro Homma*
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
Taiji Watari
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan Oshima Medical Center, Oshima machi, Tokyo, Japan
Tomonori Baba
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
Misako Suzuki
Affiliation:
Oshima Medical Center, Oshima machi, Tokyo, Japan Department of Pediatrics, Ohashi Hospital, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Tadanori Shimizu
Affiliation:
Oshima Medical Center, Oshima machi, Tokyo, Japan
Yuji Fujii
Affiliation:
Oshima Medical Center, Oshima machi, Tokyo, Japan
Yuji Takazawa
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
Yuichiro Maruyama
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Urayasu city, Chiba, Japan.
Kazuo Kaneko
Affiliation:
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Yasuhiro Homma, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 133-8421, Japan (e-mail: yhomma@juntendo.ac.jp).
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Abstract

Introduction

Landslides represent a frequent and threatening natural disaster. The aim of this study was to investigate the injury patterns observed after a landslide and to discuss how to minimize the damage caused by a landslide disaster.

Methods

A landslide occurred on Oshima Island, Japan, on October 16, 2013. A total of 49 victims with landslide-related injuries were identified and analyzed.

Results

The patients ranged in age from 5 to 89 years with an average age of 61.0±19.3 years. Of all patients, 69.4% were triaged as black. Of 15 patients who were treated in the nearest hospital (the only hospital on the island), 8 were triaged as red and yellow with severe chest or pelvic injury and a high Injury Severity Score (average score, 25.6; range, 4–45). Of these, 75% had chest injury and 75% had pelvic injury. The percentage of chest and/or pelvic injury was 100% in patients triaged as red or yellow. Traumatic asphyxia was diagnosed in 62.5% of these patients.

Conclusions

Compression of the trunk was the main injury in patients triaged as red or yellow after this landslide disaster. Evacuation in advance, the rapid launch of emergency medical support, and knowledge of this specific injury pattern are essential to minimize the potential damage resulting from landslide disasters. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:248–252)

Keywords

disaster medicinelandslidestriage
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 248 - 252
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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