The Terrorist Bomb Explosion in Bologna, Italy, 1980

Abstract

In Aug., 1980 a terrorist bomb attack was made on the central railway station of Bologna, Italy, Altogether, 291 persons were injured, 73 of whom died at the scene. An analysis of the nature of the injuries and the mechanism by which they occurred showed that 3 types of bomb injuries could be distinguished: primary blast injuries (pulmonary injuries and flash burns), secondary and tertiary injuries (concussions, lacerations and fractures), the latter 2 types from flying debris set in motion by the blast wave or propulsion of the body. Chest X-ray should be included as a routine part of the examination of blast-injured patients on admission, since many of them develop respiratory insufficiency within 24 h even when primary symptoms are mild. Because the secondary and tertiary effects of a bomb explosion often lead to multiple injuries, these patients require considerable therapeutic and medical care resources. By an evalution of the degree of severity of the injuries with use of the AIS (abbreviate injury scale) and ISS (injury severity score) systems, the injurious effects of different types of disasters can be estimated and the findings can serve as a basis for future planning of disaster preparedness.