Epidemiological Data of Patients Consulted to Physical Therapy Clinic in the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake
Abstract
On February 6, 2023, 7.8-magnitude earthquake occurred in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye. This earthquake was one of the most devastating disasters to hit Türkiye, resulting in an official death count of over 45,000. In this study, we aimed to determine the injury patterns of the patients who were consulted to the physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake, and to ensure that their physicians were better prepared for possible earthquakes. Our study was completed between February and June 2023. All patients, male and female, who had earthquake-related injuries and were consulted to the physical therapy unit were included. Discharged patients were screened retrospectively. Inpatients were investigated prospectively. A total of 220 patients were included in the study. The patients were examined in terms of age, gender, date of application, pain score, time under the dent, complaint at admission, additional disease, type of injury, and treatment applied. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS version 22.0 software. The most frequently affected age group was 15-30 years old. The most common complaints were pain, limitation of movement and difficulty in walking. The most common surgical procedures are fasciotomy, internal fixation, and amputation. The most commonly injured limbs are the lower extremities. The most common level of amputation was transtibial amputation. After the earthquake, patients need physical therapy and rehabilitation. The knowledge and experience of the physicians of the relevant branches about the frequently observed injury patterns should be increased. This study is generally in line with most other studies reporting the epidemiology of injury after earthquakes. However, there is no standardization among the studies. Therefore, standardization in reporting earthquake injuries is necessary for evidence-based response policy planning after natural disasters.
Keywords
References
- Akkaya M, Öktem U, Tolunay T, Ocak M, Yolaçan DS, Gürler A et al. 2023. An overview of the orthopedic patient profile in the first five days following February 6th, 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake: A single-center experience in the earthquake zone. Joint Diseas Related Surg, 34(2): 503-508.
- Bai XD, Liu XH. 2009. Retrospective analysis: the earthquake-injured patients in Barakott of Pakistan. Chinese J Traumatol, 12(02): 122-124.
- Bingol O, Karlidag T, Keskin OH, Kilic E, Sarikaya B, Ozdemir G. 2023. Preventing extremity amputations after earthquakes: a quantitative analysis of fasciotomy and extrication time. European J Trauma Emerg Surg, 2023: 1-6.
- Bozkurt M, Ocguder A, Turktas U, Erdem M. 2007. The evaluation of trauma patients in Turkish Red Crescent Field Hospital following the Pakistan earthquake in 2005. Injury, 38(3): 290-297.
- Dal Zilio L, Ampuero J. P. 2023. Earthquake doublet in Turkey and Syria. Commun Earth Environ, 4(1): 71.
- Duman H, Kulahci Y, Sengezer M. 2003. Fasciotomy in crush injury resulting from prolonged pressure in an earthquake in Turkey. Emergency Med J, 20(3): 251-252.
- Emami MJ, Tavakoli AR, Alemzadeh H, Abdinejad F, Shahcheraghi G, Erfani MA et al. 2005. Strategies in evaluation and management of Bam earthquake victims. Prehospital Disas Med, 20(5): 327-330.
- Ergani HM, Özmut Ö, Yıldırım F, Çit R, Yaşar B, Ünlü RE. 2023. Evaluation of the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake from the perspective of Plastic Surgery Department: A single-center experience. Joint Diseas Related Surg, 34(2): 523-529.
- Gonzalez D. 2005. Crush syndrome. Crit Care Med, 33(1): S34-S41.
- Guha-Sapir D, Vos F. 2010. Earthquakes, an epidemiological perspective on patterns and trends. In: Human casualties in earthquakes: progress in modelling and mitigation. Springer, London, UK, pp: 13-24.
- Haynes BE, Freeman C, Rubin JL, Koehler GA, Enriquez SM, Smiley DR. 1992. Medical response to catastrophic events: California's planning and the Loma Prieta earthquake. Annals Emerg Med, 21(4): 368-374.
- Kanwal M. 2023. Natural disaster (Earthquake) in Turkiye and Syria 2023: Humanitarian Response. URL: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4382051 (accesed date: February 18, 2023).
- Lechat MF. 1979. Disasters and public health. Bullet World Health Organiz, 57(1): 11.
- Lechat MF. 1990. The epidemiology of health effects of disasters. Epidemiol Rev, 12(1): 192-198.
- Mavrouli, M, Mavroulis, S, Lekkas, E, Tsakris A. 2023. The impact of earthquakes on public health: A narrative review of infectious diseases in the post-disaster period aiming to disaster risk reduction. Microorganisms, 11(2): 419.
- Naghi TM, Kambiz K, Shahriar JM, Afshin T, Reza SK, Behnam P, et al. 2005. Musculoskeletal injuries associated with earthquake: A report of injuries of Iran's December 26, 2003 Bam earthquake casualties managed in tertiary referral centers. Injury, 36(1): 27-32.
- Sarı H, Özel M, Akkoç MF, Şen A. 2023. First-week analysis after the Turkey earthquakes: demographic and clinical outcomes of victims. Prehospital Disas Med, 2023: 1-7.
- Schwartz Jr JT, Brumback RJ, Lakatos R, Poka A, Bathon GH, Burgess A. 1989. Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh. A spectrum of injury. JBJS, 71(3): 392-400.
- Via AG, Oliva F, Spoliti M, Maffulli N. 2015. Acute compartment syndrome. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J, 5(1): 18.
- Yang C, Wang H-y, Zhong HJ, Zhou L, Jiang D-m, Du DY, et al. 2009. The epidemiological analyses of trauma patients in Chongqing teaching hospitals following the Wenchuan earthquake. Injury, 40(5): 488-492.
Epidemiological Data of Patients Consulted to Physical Therapy Clinic in the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake
Abstract
On February 6, 2023, 7.8-magnitude earthquake occurred in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye. This earthquake was one of the most devastating disasters to hit Türkiye, resulting in an official death count of over 45,000. In this study, we aimed to determine the injury patterns of the patients who were consulted to the physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic after the Kahramanmaraş earthquake, and to ensure that their physicians were better prepared for possible earthquakes. Our study was completed between February and June 2023. All patients, male and female, who had earthquake-related injuries and were consulted to the physical therapy unit were included. Discharged patients were screened retrospectively. Inpatients were investigated prospectively. A total of 220 patients were included in the study. The patients were examined in terms of age, gender, date of application, pain score, time under the dent, complaint at admission, additional disease, type of injury, and treatment applied. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS version 22.0 software. The most frequently affected age group was 15-30 years old. The most common complaints were pain, limitation of movement and difficulty in walking. The most common surgical procedures are fasciotomy, internal fixation, and amputation. The most commonly injured limbs are the lower extremities. The most common level of amputation was transtibial amputation. After the earthquake, patients need physical therapy and rehabilitation. The knowledge and experience of the physicians of the relevant branches about the frequently observed injury patterns should be increased. This study is generally in line with most other studies reporting the epidemiology of injury after earthquakes. However, there is no standardization among the studies. Therefore, standardization in reporting earthquake injuries is necessary for evidence-based response policy planning after natural disasters.
Keywords
References
- Akkaya M, Öktem U, Tolunay T, Ocak M, Yolaçan DS, Gürler A et al. 2023. An overview of the orthopedic patient profile in the first five days following February 6th, 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake: A single-center experience in the earthquake zone. Joint Diseas Related Surg, 34(2): 503-508.
- Bai XD, Liu XH. 2009. Retrospective analysis: the earthquake-injured patients in Barakott of Pakistan. Chinese J Traumatol, 12(02): 122-124.
- Bingol O, Karlidag T, Keskin OH, Kilic E, Sarikaya B, Ozdemir G. 2023. Preventing extremity amputations after earthquakes: a quantitative analysis of fasciotomy and extrication time. European J Trauma Emerg Surg, 2023: 1-6.
- Bozkurt M, Ocguder A, Turktas U, Erdem M. 2007. The evaluation of trauma patients in Turkish Red Crescent Field Hospital following the Pakistan earthquake in 2005. Injury, 38(3): 290-297.
- Dal Zilio L, Ampuero J. P. 2023. Earthquake doublet in Turkey and Syria. Commun Earth Environ, 4(1): 71.
- Duman H, Kulahci Y, Sengezer M. 2003. Fasciotomy in crush injury resulting from prolonged pressure in an earthquake in Turkey. Emergency Med J, 20(3): 251-252.
- Emami MJ, Tavakoli AR, Alemzadeh H, Abdinejad F, Shahcheraghi G, Erfani MA et al. 2005. Strategies in evaluation and management of Bam earthquake victims. Prehospital Disas Med, 20(5): 327-330.
- Ergani HM, Özmut Ö, Yıldırım F, Çit R, Yaşar B, Ünlü RE. 2023. Evaluation of the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake from the perspective of Plastic Surgery Department: A single-center experience. Joint Diseas Related Surg, 34(2): 523-529.
- Gonzalez D. 2005. Crush syndrome. Crit Care Med, 33(1): S34-S41.
- Guha-Sapir D, Vos F. 2010. Earthquakes, an epidemiological perspective on patterns and trends. In: Human casualties in earthquakes: progress in modelling and mitigation. Springer, London, UK, pp: 13-24.
- Haynes BE, Freeman C, Rubin JL, Koehler GA, Enriquez SM, Smiley DR. 1992. Medical response to catastrophic events: California's planning and the Loma Prieta earthquake. Annals Emerg Med, 21(4): 368-374.
- Kanwal M. 2023. Natural disaster (Earthquake) in Turkiye and Syria 2023: Humanitarian Response. URL: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4382051 (accesed date: February 18, 2023).
- Lechat MF. 1979. Disasters and public health. Bullet World Health Organiz, 57(1): 11.
- Lechat MF. 1990. The epidemiology of health effects of disasters. Epidemiol Rev, 12(1): 192-198.
- Mavrouli, M, Mavroulis, S, Lekkas, E, Tsakris A. 2023. The impact of earthquakes on public health: A narrative review of infectious diseases in the post-disaster period aiming to disaster risk reduction. Microorganisms, 11(2): 419.
- Naghi TM, Kambiz K, Shahriar JM, Afshin T, Reza SK, Behnam P, et al. 2005. Musculoskeletal injuries associated with earthquake: A report of injuries of Iran's December 26, 2003 Bam earthquake casualties managed in tertiary referral centers. Injury, 36(1): 27-32.
- Sarı H, Özel M, Akkoç MF, Şen A. 2023. First-week analysis after the Turkey earthquakes: demographic and clinical outcomes of victims. Prehospital Disas Med, 2023: 1-7.
- Schwartz Jr JT, Brumback RJ, Lakatos R, Poka A, Bathon GH, Burgess A. 1989. Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh. A spectrum of injury. JBJS, 71(3): 392-400.
- Via AG, Oliva F, Spoliti M, Maffulli N. 2015. Acute compartment syndrome. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J, 5(1): 18.
- Yang C, Wang H-y, Zhong HJ, Zhou L, Jiang D-m, Du DY, et al. 2009. The epidemiological analyses of trauma patients in Chongqing teaching hospitals following the Wenchuan earthquake. Injury, 40(5): 488-492.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Injury Prevention |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | February 18, 2024 |
| Publication Date | May 1, 2024 |
| Submission Date | December 21, 2023 |
| Acceptance Date | February 2, 2024 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2024 Volume: 7 Issue: 3 |
