55 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Differentiating Mass Disasters. The Barzullah Classification. Shabir Ahmed Dhar (A,B,C,D,E,F) , Mohammed Ramzan (A,B,C,D,E,F) , Manzoor Ahmed Halwai (A,B,C,D,E,F) , Mohammed Farooq Butt (A,B,C,D,E,F) , Murtaza Fazal Ali (A,B,C,D,E,F) , Altaf Ahmed Kawoosa (A,B,C,D,E,F) Government Hospital for Bone and Joint Surgery, Barzullah, Srinagar, Kashmir SUMMARY Background. To assess the pattern of mass casualty incidents managed at our hospital over the last eight years, and evolve a differentiating classification based on this pattern. A combination of retrospective and prospective assessment was made. Material and methods. All patients receiving injuries in mass casualty incidents and managed at our ho- spital. Patients with an injury severity score above 9. Management of injuries as per the trauma management protocol. Classification based on the data collected during the study and application of this classification to the subsequent mass casualty incidents to allow comparison between similar incidents in different settings. Results. A classification system that mainly differentiates mass casualty incidents on the hospital basis, the criteria being: the time interval between the first information to first reception, and the percentage of admission above the maximum normal intake. Conclusions. 1. The Barzullah classification system is the first attempt at developing a hospital based dif- ferentiation in mass casualty incidents. 2. It provides a valid and easy method of comparing such incidents between hospitals and perhaps a basis for developing protocol for mass disaster management. Key words: mass disaster, classification, management O O r r t t o o p p e e d d i i a a Traumatologia Rehabilitacja © MEDSPORTPRESS, 2009; 1(6); Vol. 11, 55-60 Adres do korespondencji / Address for correspondence dr Shabir Ahmed Dhar Government Hospital for Bone and Joint Surgery, Barzullah, Srinagar, Kashmir, e-mail: shabirdhar@yahoo.co.in Liczba s³ów/Word count: 3270 Tabele/Tables: 3 Ryciny/Figures: 0 Piœmiennictwo/References: 21 Otrzymano / Received 04.09.2008 r. Zaakceptowano / Accepted 16.12.2008 r.