Defining Patient Profiles After the 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Turkey Earthquake

Abstract

Objective: On 6 February 2023, 2 earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 mW occurred in Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş province (Turkey) and affected 11 provinces in total, especially Hatay, Malatya, and Adıyaman. Here, we report 3 earthquake victims in order to define patients profiles.

Case reports: Three patients who were taken to the orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation program in our inpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation unit after the earthquake are presented. Our first case, a 46-year-old man, remained in the debris for 8.5 h. His left leg was left in the wreckage, and he later developed a drop foot on the left due to compartment syndrome, which developed with pain and swelling in the left calf. There is no fasciotomy procedure. Venous Doppler was reported to be within normal limits. Our second case is a 52-year-old man who was in the debris for 36 h and has a left braxial plexus injury and a left drop foot. He has Buerger’s disease in his medical history. The third case is an 8-year-old girl trapped in rubble during the earthquake with a right orbital fracture and a left foot transmetarsal amputation. She has no neurological signs.

Discussion: The patients that apply to our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic are especially amputees, patients with traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve damage, plexus damage, multiple fractures, joint limitations and soft tissue loss in the musculoskeletal system. After the earthquake, we encountered patients from a wide variety of spectrums in our clinic. In addition to primary musculoskeletal injuries, they also experience systemic problems affecting the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, thrombosis, infection, renal failure, and multiple organ failures may also occur.

Conclusion: Countries should develop guidelines for disaster preparedness and establish coordination units that can take quick action, make decisions, and communicate in times of disaster. A good definition of patient clinical profiles after the earthquake will ensure early intervention and prevent permanent disability and functional losses.