Tülin Türközü

Review of Van earthquakes form an orthopaedic perspective: a multicentre retrospective study

PurposeThis is a descriptive analysis, of victims of Turkey’s October 23, 2011 and November 21, 2011 Van earthquakes. The goal of this study is investigated the injury profile of the both earthquakes in relation to musculoskeletal trauma.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed medical records of 3,965 patients admitted to in seven hospitals. A large share of these injuries were soft tissue injuries, followed by fractures, crush injuries, crush syndromes, nerve injuries, vascular injuries, compartment syndrome and joint dislocations. A total of 73 crush injuries were diagnosed and 31 of them were developed compartment syndrome.ResultsThe patients with closed undisplaced fractures were treated with casting braces. For closed unstable fractures with good skin and soft-tissue conditions, open reduction and internal fixation was performed. All patients with open fracture had an external fixator applied after adequate debridement. Thirty one of 40 patients with compartment syndrome were treated by fasciotomy. For twelve of them, amputation was necessary. The most common procedure performed was debridement, followed by open reduction and internal fixation and closed reduction-casting, respectively.ConclusionsThe results of this study may provide the basis for future development of strategy to optimise attempts at rescue and plan treatment of survivors with musculoskeletal injuries after earthquakes.

The outcomes of acetabular fractures treated surgically and factors affecting the result

DOI: 10.4328/JCAM.5124 Received: 03.06.2017 Accepted: 21.12.2017 Published Online: 30.12.2017 Printed: 01.03.2018 J Clin Anal Med 2018;9(2): 93-6 Corresponding Author: Mehmet Ata Gökalp, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Yüzüncü Yıl University, Medical Faculty, Van, Turkey. T.: +905055037613 E-Mail: doktorata@hotmail.com Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiological and clinical outcomes of surgically treated acetabular fractures. Material and Method: A total of 30 patients with acetabular fracture who had presented to the Orthopedics and Traumatology Department of Yüzüncü Yıl University Medical Faculty between January 2009 and December 2013 and undergoing surgery were included in the study. The number of males was 25 (83.3%), and the number of females was 5 (16.7%). The ages of the patients varied between 18 and 68 (mean: 40) years. The indications for surgery were: more than 3 mms of dislocation in one of the three X-Rays obtained (antero-posterior, obturator oblique and iliac oblique), intra-articular piece of the fracture and posterior instability. Results: 20 (66.7%) and 10 (33.7%) patients had acetabular fractures in the right and left hips, respectively. The most common cause of trauma was falling from a height. According to the classification of Letournel, 18 patients (60%) had complex and 12 patients (40%) had simple fractures. 13 patients (43.5%) had additional traumatic hip dislocation. Following the surgical intervention, 13 patients (43.3%) had anatomical reduction and 4 (13.3%) had poor reduction. The patients were followed-up for a mean duration of 28 months. According to the radiological criteria of Matta, 13 patients (43.3%) had excellent, 11 (36.6%) had good, 4 (13.3%) had moderate, and 2 (6.6%) had poor outcomes. According to the clinical recovery criteria of Merle d’Aubigne and Postel, 7 patients (23.3%) had very good, 15 (50%) had good, 4 (13.3%) had moderate, and 4 (13.3%) had poor outcomes. Discussion: It was concluded that the quality of reduction affected the clinical and radiological outcomes, and that this effect depended on the simple or complex nature of the fracture. Successful and satisfactory results may be obtained by selecting the correct incision method for the fracture type, advanced surgical experience and careful post-operative patient follow-up.