IF it was only a cracked outer windsecreen then the QRH calls for the landing altitude to be set to 10,000ft (for pressurisation).
There is then no restriction for max diff or altitude restrictions if it only an outer windscreen.
Maybe the media got it wrong. I know highly unlikely but it could of been more than just the outer, which would then require a level change.
The fact that the Captain decided to do an emergency descent is of no issue. An emergency descent in itself would not lead to the injuries stated as it is not a big difference from a normal high speed descent. The aircraft should not decompress just from what we have been told.
Only knowing what has been shown in the papers there is a possibility that all the 'injuries' were just from panic and not related to an actual depressurisation.
Just my thoughts.... Whatever