In this paper, we report three cases of orbital rhabdomyosarcoma in different age groups with different histopathologic types. Case 1 is a 10-year old Malay boy who presented with painless proptosis of the left eye. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed soft tissue mass arising from the lateral rectus muscle. Tissue biopsy revealed rhabdomyosarcoma of embryonal type. Case 2 is a 32-year old Malay man who presented with a progressive left eye proptosis associated with pain and redness. Computed Tomography (CT) scan showed a retrobulbar mass extending medially in the left orbit. Meanwhile, biopsy showed rhabdomyosarcoma of pleomorphic type. Case 3 is a 67-year old Malay woman who presented with proptosis and fungating growth of left orbital region, epistaxis and nasal blockage. CT scan revealed an ill-defi ned mass fi lling up the left orbital cavity. Biopsy showed rhabdomyosarcoma of alveolar type. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common in childhood but it should be considered as a differential diagnosis of orbital tumours irrespective of age.

PURPOSEThe objective of this study was to establish the relationship between the timing of admission to a hospital and the severity of injuries following an earthquake.

METHODSIt was a retrospective chart review of injured patients admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital following the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. Age, gender, injury severity score, type of injuries, complications, operations, hospital stay and mortality were studied and compared at different time intervals using SPSS.

RESULTSMost injuries were musculoskeletal [145 (59%)] vs. all other injuries, including minor lacerations [103 (41%)], but the percentage of non-musculoskeletal injuries was higher within 24 h (67% vs. 53% respectively, p = 0.4). Injury severity score (25 ± 10 vs. 16 ± 9, p=0.01), multiple injuries [73% vs. 45%, p=0.05] and crush syndrome [20% vs. 03%, p = 0.02] were significantly higher in patients admitted within 24 h. More patients with head and neck injuries were admitted within 24 h (27% vs. 18%, p = 0.4). Patients admitted within 24 h had higher complication rates (67% vs. 32%, P = 0.01) as well as mean operative procedures (2.8 ± 1.9 vs. 1.9 ± 1.9, p= 0.08).

CONCLUSIONOur study showed that patients admitted to a hospital within 24 h following an earthquake had more severe injuries and higher complication rate than those admitted after 24 h.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pakistan ; Patient Admission ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Young Adult