Accidental Injuries from Explosion of a Compressed Natural Gas Bus

Jang, Seok Hee; Kang, Bo Seung; Choi, Hyuk Joong; Kang, Hyung Goo; Lim, Tae Ho

Abstract

PURPOSE
During August 2010, a natural gas fuel cylinder on a bus exploded in downtown Seoul, injuring 20 citizens. This kind of blast injury has never been reported in Korea before. Thus, the goal of this study was to review the clinical features of these victims to help physicians manage similar cases and to understand the risk factors associated with blast injuries in everyday life.
METHODS
Twenty (20) victims who visited nearby emergency departments, and 3 peoples left hospital without care. Seventeen (17) victims were included in this study, and the following factors were investigated: age, sex, type of hospital, diagnosis of injury, injury mechanism, position of victim (in-bus/out of bus), classification of injury severity with START (simple triage and rapid treatment), and classification of injury according to the mechanism of the blast injury.
RESULTS
The victims included 8 males (47%), 9 females (53%). The mean age was 37.5+/-12. Thirteen (13) victims were transferred to two tertiary hospitals, and 4 were transferred to two secondary hospitals. The types of injury were 3 fractures, 2 ligaments injuries, 6 contusions, 4 abrasions, and 3 open wounds (one of them was combined fracture). According to START classification, 17 victims were 1 immediate, 11 minor, 5 delayed, and no death. Classifications according to the mechanism of the blast injury were 1 primary injury, 6 secondary injuries (2 of them combined other mechanism), 3 tertiary injuries and 9 quaternary injuries.
CONCLUSION
Trauma care physicians should be familiar with not only the specific types of injuries from blast accidents, but also the potential accidents that may occur in public facilities.