Analysis of orthopedic injuries in an airplane landing disaster and a suggested mechanism of trauma

Abstract

Survival after an airplane disaster is rare. We describe the injuries of survivors of an airplane accident and present a common mechanism of trauma for victims. Descriptive data were gathered by interviews with patients, physical examination. Review of charts and patients X-ray films. Informations regarding the flight characteristics were obtained from Iran air safety board. All dead patients were clinically examined by legal medicine department. The suggested mechanism of trauma was established according to present knowledge of mechanism of fractures. From 105 passengers, 27 survived. There was no mortality during hospital course. Between dead passengers, lower extremity fractures were the most common followed by chest wall fractures. Among the survivors, neurosurgical help was needed only in one case for shunt application. Brain concussions and effusions and one hematoma managed conservatively. Two laparotomies were performed for one splenectomy and two hepatoraphy. One pelvic fracture and two femur fractures were occurred. Tibia fractures were the most common (17) followed by spine (14) fractures. Ten tibial fractures were open, and 15 were in distal third. All tibia fractures were fixed with IM locking nails or locking plates. Eight posterior instrumentations were applied for seven burst and two fracture-dislocations. In this landing accident, a combination of vertical loading along with deceleration force produced burst fractures of spine and distal leg fractures.

Three Cases of Spine Fractures after an Airplane Crash

“…During these periods of the flight, the speed of the aircraft is slower than at any other point, thus the potential for many to survive exists, provided there is no second catastrophic event. 2 6 9) …”

“…The most common level of injuries were the thoracolumbar junction (T10-L2, 13 cases) and mid thoracic level (2 cases). 9) …”

Series of Nine Cases of Axial Displacement of Distal Tibial and/or Fibular Shafts from Aircraft Crashes with Proposal of Potential Mechanisms

“…The impacts and decelerations associated with aircraft crashes are relatively frequent sources of severe traumatic injuries as has been previously discussed in the literature. (Siegel and Mohler, 1970;Wagner, 2005;Folio et al, 2009;Mirzatolooei and Bazzazi, 2013;Wiegmann and Taneja, 2003;Taneja and Wiegmann, 2003;Vidoli and Mundorff, 2012) Among the most frequent forms of trauma seen in aircraft crashes are fractures and associated soft tissue trauma of the lower extremities. (Mirzatolooei and Bazzazi, 2013;Wiegmann and Taneja, 2003;Taneja and Wiegmann, 2003).…”

“…(Siegel and Mohler, 1970;Wagner, 2005;Folio et al, 2009;Mirzatolooei and Bazzazi, 2013;Wiegmann and Taneja, 2003;Taneja and Wiegmann, 2003;Vidoli and Mundorff, 2012) Among the most frequent forms of trauma seen in aircraft crashes are fractures and associated soft tissue trauma of the lower extremities. (Mirzatolooei and Bazzazi, 2013;Wiegmann and Taneja, 2003;Taneja and Wiegmann, 2003). The ramifications of these forces can be extreme and dramatic especially in the crashes with the highest impact velocities or shortest deceleration distances.…”

Spinal Injuries in an Airplane Crash

“…5 , 6 Detailed reports solely on spinal injuries, as a result of an airplane crash, are scarce in literature because most literature is about all types injuries sustained in aircraft accidents together. [7][8][9] In this study, the spinal injuries of the survivors of a commercial airplane crash near Amsterdam in 2009 are described. The incidence, morphology, and probable injury mechanism are studied.…”