The Clinical Profile of Musculoskeletal Injuries Associated With the 2011 Van Earthquake in Turkey

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical profile of the patients with musculoskeletal injuries associated with the 2011 Van earthquake and treatment modalities applied. Patients and methods: Between 23.10.2012 and 28.10.2012, a total of 285 patients (151 males, 134 females; mean age 38.6, years; range 1 to 84 years) with musculoskeletal injuries associated with the earthquake who were admitted to Emergency Department of Van Training and Research Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Medical records including the profile of injury, injury type, site of injury, treatment modalities applied and prognosis were evaluated. Results: Ninety-five of 285 patients had soft tissue damage, while 144 had fractures. Of these fractures, 81 required surgical treatment. Forty-six patients had crush injury, while 28 had compartment syndrome. Open and multiple fractures and fragmented fractures were common. The majority of the fractures involved limbs, indicating higher incidence of lower limb involvement rather than upper limb involvement. The incidence of infection was lower in the patients who experienced the earthquake. Conclusion: Orthopedic surgery is of utmost importance for the patients with musculoskeletal injuries associated with the earthquake. Appropriate triage should be performed and then the patients with open fractures and compartment syndrome should be given priority for surgery. In such cases, debridement, open reduction and internal fixation are the most common surgical treatments.