OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Chinese herb of promoting blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis on the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in serum of patients with mudslide injuries, and investigate the mechanisms of Chinese herb of promoting blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis in the treatment of mudslide injuries.

METHODSPatients with mudslide injuries who were translated from Zhouqu and Chengxian to Lanzhou from 12th August 2010 were divided into two groups (group A and group B). Twenty-five patients in group A, containing 15 males and 10 females, with an average age of (39.0 +/- 3.9) years. According to AIS scoring system, 1 point in 2 cases, 2 points in 3, 3 points in 17 and 4 points in 3. No patients got 5 points. Based on ISS rating system, 16 cases got 16 points or less, 7 cases rated between 16 and 25, only 2 cases were equal to 25 points or more. Another 25 patients were in group B, including 11 males and 14 females, with a mean age of (40.1 +/- 3.6) years; AIS score showed 3 cases got 1 point, 4 got 2 points, 16 got 3 and 2 got 4 points, no patients got 5 points. Patients in group B were divided into three parts by ISS score:15 cases (16 points or less); 9 cases (range 16 to 25 points) and 1 case (25 points or more). All the patients accepted general physical checkup. Eight patients were treated by surgical treatment in group A (3 patients were treated with open reduction plate fixation, 4 patients were treated with debridement BHID, and 1 patient underwent foreign body removal) and 6 cases in group B (1 patient was treated with craniocerebral surgery,2 patients were treated with chest surgery, and 3 patients were treated with soft tissue debridement). All the patients of two groups were treated by support treatment, detumescence treatment and preventing infection, complications. A seven days course of treatment with detumescence analgesic mixture 50 ml p.o. bid, traumatologic cleansing liquid 20 ml ad us, ext 20 to 30 min qid to group A,continuous treatment of two courses. Using immunometric assay to determine serum levels of inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha, IL-6 at the 2nd, 7th, 14th days after admission. Analysis of data were done with the help of SPSS 16.0 statistic software.

RESULTSThere were no statistical differences of TNF-alpha, IL-6 between two groups at the second day after admission, and there were statistical differences at the 7th and 14th days between two groups. There were significant differences of TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels between the 7th day and the 2nd day, the 14th day and 2nd day after admission.

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese herb of promoting blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis can inhibit the release of inflammatory factor after traumatism.