Peripheral nerve palsies in victims of the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake

Abstract

On January 17, 1995, the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake directly hit a metropolis and destroyed approximately 120,000 houses. Many people were buried under the debris of the Japanese style wooden houses or were injured by falling furniture. Twenty-five patients (35 extremities) with earthquake associated peripheral nerve palsy were studied and followed up for 2 years. The characteristic feature of earthquake associated palsies was combined nerve palsy induced by prolonged compression. There were 11 extremities with brachial plexus palsy; two extremities with combined radial, median, and ulnar nerve palsy; two extremities with combined median and ulnar nerve palsy; two extremities with radial nerve palsy; two extremities with ulnar nerve palsy; 10 extremities with combined femoral and sciatic nerve palsy; one extremity with combined tibial and peroneal nerve palsy; and five extremities with compartment syndrome of the leg. Many peripheral nerve palsies were induced by nerve ischemia. Most patients had good spontaneous recovery. The prognosis of these palsies generally was good.