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Original Article | Preliminary Reports After the 2023 Türkiye Earthquakes · Open access

Evaluation of the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake from the perspective of Plastic Surgery Department: A single-center experience

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Hasan Murat Ergani

Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye

ORCID: 0000-0002-0305-7032

Özer Özmut

Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye

ORCID: 0000-0002-0361-8602

Furkan Yıldırım

Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye

ORCID: 0009-0003-2973-3742

Rıdvan Çit

Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye

ORCID: 0009-0009-8048-0545

Burak Yaşar

Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye

ORCID: 0000-0002-1110-1048

Ramazan Erkin Ünlü

Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye

ORCID: 0000-0002-3173-0837

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment management and demographic data of earthquake victims admitted to Plastic Surgery Department of our center after the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake.

Patients and methods: Between February 6th, 2023 and February 15th, 2023, a total of 120 patients (65 males, 55 females; mean age: 36.3±17.3 years; range, 85 to 88 years) who were consulted to the Plastic Surgery Department of our center were included. Demographic data of the patients, time to admission to the emergency room, removal time under the rubble, type of injury, emergency operation requirement, fasciotomy requirement, hyperbaric oxygen therapy administration, and length of stay in the intensive care unit were evaluated. After the first intervention, patients with compartment syndrome underwent emergency fasciotomy immediately. Perioperative laboratory values of the patients were followed closely to prevent the development of crush syndrome.

Results: Due to stay under the rubble, upper extremity soft tissue injury was seen in 46.2% of the patients. The pelvic and abdominal region were the least affected soft tissues in 1.7% patients. Fasciotomy was performed in 75 patients who stayed under the rubble. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was applied to 21 of 75 patients who underwent fasciotomy. Amputation was performed in four patients, three of which were in the upper extremity and one in the lower extremity, during follow-up after fasciotomy. A total of 10.83% of the patients were treated conservatively and 11.67% of them were reconstructed with free flaps. Totally 7.5% of the patients who stayed under the rubble were hospitalized in our clinic for maxillofacial injuries. A total of 66.6% of these patients were treated surgically, while 33.3% of them were further treated conservatively.

Conclusion: Proper triage, proper fasciotomy, and appropriate surgical interventions reduce the amputation rate, yielding clinically satisfactory results.

Declarations

Ethics Committee Approval

The study protocol was approved by the Ankara City Hospital Ethics Committee (date: 09.03.2023, no: E1-23-3366). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Author Contributions

Idea/concept, writing the article, analysis and/or interpretation, other: H.M.E.; Design, literature review, materials: H.M.E., Ö.Ö.; Control/supervision: R.E.Ü.; Data collection and/or processing: R.Ç., F.Y.; Critical review, references and fundings: H.M.E., B.Y., Ö.Ö.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

Patient Consent for Publication

A written informed consent was obtained from each patient.

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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