What Researchers Did
Researchers evaluated the treatment management and demographic data of earthquake victims admitted to a single Plastic Surgery Department after the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake.
What They Found
Upper extremity soft tissue injury was observed in 46.2% of patients, with pelvic and abdominal regions being the least affected at 1.7%. Fasciotomy was performed in 75 patients, 21 of whom received hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and 4 patients ultimately required amputation. Overall, 10.83% of patients were treated conservatively, while 11.67% underwent free flap reconstruction.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it focuses on a specific earthquake event in Turkey.
Study Limitations
The findings are limited by being a single-center experience, which may not be generalizable to other populations or healthcare systems.