Objective To summarize the treatment and outcomes of patients with multiple injuries combined with thoracic trauma following the Wenchuan earthquake. Methods The wounded patients admitted from 12th to 31st May with multiple injuries combined with thoracic trauma after the earthquake were retrospectively analyzed. This includes baseline information, treatments, outcomes and deaths. Results Liver repair, spleen abscission, decompression and removed of intracranial hematoma ranked the first three of the main reasons for the emergency surgery death of multiple injuries. Heart-lung machine support, trachea cannula and closed drainage of thoracic cavity ranked the first three of the main reasons for the death of thoracic trauma. Moreover, ARDS, fracture of sternum and flail chest ranked the first three of the main reasons for the death of other multiple injuries. All the casualties had the worst situation with high ISS scores. The main death reasons were cerebral wound, peritoneum viscera injuries and the four limbs and pelvis injuries. Besides, the severe thoracic trauma accelerated their death. Conclusion Main death reasons for the inpatients with multiple injuries combined with thoracic trauma are hemorrhagic shock and severe cerebral wound. The thoracic trauma degree will increase the risk of their death. The more the injury positions, the higher ISS scores, and the more serious thoracic trauma, the higher mortality rate. Rapid examination and diagnosis, rapied triage and distribution of thoracic trauma can help to create more chances for the further treatment and increase the success rate of rescue.
