Radiological imaging findings of avalanche victims with traumatic lesions in Van eastern province of Turkey

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to present the radiological findings of survivors from two avalanches within two days in the same valley.
METHODS: This retrospective descriptive study was carried out in two centers after ethics committee approval. The radiological and demographical findings of 47 survivors were screened from two hospital databases. Patients were classified regarding the type of traumatic lesion as well as the lesion sites. A total of 39 traumatic lesions in 22 patients were detected via radiological imaging modalities.
RESULTS: The female/male ratio was 4.8% (1/21) and the mean age was 42.6±17.1 years (24-86 years). Among the 39 traumatic lesions, 13 (33.30%) were detected in the extremities (4 in the muscles/ligaments, 9 in the bones), 9 (23.1%) in the spine (5 transverse, 2 spinous process, and 2 corpus fractures), 9 (23..1%) in the thorax (5 pulmonary contusion, 1 pneumomediastinum, 1 hemothorax, and 2 rib fractures), and 8 (20.5%) in the head (1 subdural hematoma, 5 maxillofacial fractures, and 2 subcutaneous hematomas). There were no abdominal or pelvic lesions detected in this study.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Traumatic lesions can be seen in all systems and organs. Results of this study revealed that spinal and extremity fractures and pulmonary contusions were the most commonly reported traumatic lesions in the included avalanche victims. Muscular injuries were also detected. The use of MRI increases the success of lesion detection in intracranial structures and muscular-ligamentous tissues.