Data analysis of patients admitted to the emergency medicine clinic of Mersin City Training and Research Hospital after the Kahramanmaraþ earthquake

BACKGROUND: In earthquakes and other natural disasters, there is a significant number of injuries directly resulting from trauma. Additionally, due to the disaster’s impact on overloaded health institutions, healthcare providers face significant challenges during earthquakes. In this context, nearby hospitals providing health services play a crucial role. Nonetheless, with proper planning, the health crisis can be managed in the best possible way.
METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was conducted on patients admitted to Mersin City Training and Research Hospital due to injuries attributed to the earthquake that occurred in the southern and mid-eastern regions of Türkiye on February 6, 2023. A total of 2,155 patients meeting the study criteria were included in the analysis.
RESULTS: Of the 2,155 patients enrolled in the study, 46.8% (n=1009) were male, with a mean age of 45.86±17.68 years. Falls (57.2%, n=1233) were the most common mechanism of injury, and 71.9% (n=1550) of cases presented to the hospital on their own. Among the head injuries, the most common types were soft tissue injury and lacerations, while soft tissue injury and rib fractures were most common in the thoracic region. Soft tissue injury and retroperitoneal bleeding were the most commonly recorded types among abdominal injuries, whereas soft tissue injury and fractures were most common in the upper and lower extremities. Fractures were identified in 11.1% (n=240) of cases in the upper extremities and 21.3% (n=458) in the lower extremities. Rhabdomyolysis was one of the most frequently observed injury types (n=443, 20.6%). Crush syndrome and acute kidney injury were recorded in 9.2% (n=198) of cases, leading to a total of 46 amputations in 40 (1.8%) patients and 164 fasciotomies in 132 (6.1%) patients. The orthopedics department performed the most frequent surgical interventions and hospitalizations. Mortality was noted in 2.87% (n=62) of cases.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a significant increase in workload and patient volume following the earthquake. There is a need for a large number of healthcare professionals for expedient intervention in conditions such as fractures, crush syndrome, amputation, and fasciotomy in disasters with a high risk of serious trauma, such as earthquakes. Disaster planning and preparedness for possible consequences will mitigate the healthcare crisis involving the hospitals and lead to significant reductions in mortality and morbidity.

Kahramanmaraþ depremi sonrasý Mersin Þehir Eðitim ve Araþtýrma Hastanesi Acil Týp kliniðine baþvuran hastalarýn veri analizi

AMAÇ: Deprem ve diðer doðal afetlerde doðrudan travmaya baðlý olarak ciddi sayýda yaralanma meydana gelmektedir. Ayrýca afetin aþýrý iþ yükü yüklenen saðlýk kurumlarýný da etkilemesi nedeniyle saðlýk çalýþanlarý deprem sýrasýnda önemli zorluklarla karþý karþýya kalmaktadýr. Bu baðlamda yakýn çevrede saðlýk hizmeti veren hastaneler önemli bir rol oynamaktadýr. Ancak doðru planlamayla saðlýk krizi en iyi þekilde yönetilebilir.
GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: 6 Þubat 2023'te Türkiye'nin güney ve ortadoðu bölgelerinde meydana gelen depreme baðlý yaralanma nedeniyle Mersin Þehir Eðitim ve Araþtýrma Hastanesi'ne baþvuran hastalar üzerinde tek merkezli retrospektif bir çalýþma yapýldý. Çalýþma kriterlerini karþýlayan toplam 2155 hasta analize dahil edildi.
BULGULAR: Çalýþmamýza dahil edilen 2155 hastanýn %46.8'i (n=1009) erkek olup yaþ ortalamasý 45.86±17.68 yýl idi. Düþmeler (% 57.2, n=1233) en sýk görülen yaralanma mekanizmasý olup, vakalarýn %71.9'u (n=1550) hastanemize kendi imkanlarý ile baþvurmuþtur. Kranial bölgede en sýk görülen yaralanmalar yumuþak doku yaralanmasý ve cilt kesileri iken, torasik bölgede yumuþak doku yaralanmasý ve kaburga kýrýklarý en sýk görülen yaralanmalardý. Abdominal yaralanmalar içindeen sýk yumuþak doku yaralanmasý ve retroperitoneal kanama saptanýrken, üst ve alt ekstremitede ise yumuþak doku yaralanmasý ve kýrýklarý en sýk olarak saptandý. Olgularýn %11,1'inde (n=240) üst ekstremitede, %21.3'ünde (n=458) alt ekstremitede kýrýk tespit edildi.Rabdomiyoliz en sýk görülen yaralanma türlerinden biriydi (n=443, %20,6). Vakalarýn %9.2'sinde (n=198)Crushsendromu ve akut böbrek hasarý saptandý; bu durum 40 (%1.8) hastada toplam 46 amputasyona ve 132 (%6.1) hastada 164 fasiyotomiye yol açtý. Ortopedi bölümü en sýk cerrahi müdahale ve hastaneye yatýþlarý gerçekleþtirdi. Vakalarýn %3.0'ýnda (n=62) mortalite gözlendi.
SONUÇ: Bu çalýþma deprem sonrasýnda iþ yükünde ve hasta hacminde önemli bir artýþ olduðunu ortaya koymuþtur. Deprem gibi ciddi travma riski yüksek olan afetlerde kýrýk, ezilme sendromu, amputasyon, fasiyotomi gibi durumlara hýzlý müdahale için çok sayýda saðlýk profesyoneline ihtiyaç vardýr. Afet planlamasý ve olasý sonuçlara karþý hazýrlýklý olmak, hastaneleri ilgilendiren saðlýk krizini hafifletecek ve mortalite ve morbiditede önemli azalmalara yol açacaktýr.