Our Emergency Fasciotomy and Amputation Experiences

On 6 February 2023, two major earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.7 at 04:17 and 7.6 at 13:24 local time occurred in Kahramanmaraş. In southern Turkey and northern Syria, 11 cities and approximately 14 million people were affected. According to the latest official data, at least 50,783 deaths, more than 122,000 injuries, and major damage occurred. The triage, treatment, and management of the injured was a challenging administrative task. The injured were treated in many centres throughout the country. In our hospital, all relevant units provided multidisciplinary service to our earthquake victims.

Superficial injuries, fractures, open wounds due to high-energy trauma, compartment syndrome due to compression, and crush injuries are frequently encountered after earthquakes, and patients are usually exposed to multiple traumas. The most common injuries associated with earthquakes are extremity injuries and crush syndrome. First and emergency intervention, including basic life, is usually performed in the disaster area. Emergency surgical procedures such as amputation and fasciatomy may be required for patients with compartment syndrome. The planning of all these surgeries and the follow-up and evaluation of patients require a multidisciplinary approach.

In this study, we planned to retrospectively investigate the anaesthesia management in emergency fasciatomy and amputation surgeries performed in the orthopaedic operating room of patients who were transferred to or admitted to the 3rd level City Hospital during the earthquake disaster on 6 February. We found that anaesthesia data on earthquake victims in the literature were insufficient. We aimed to share our experiences in order to provide guidance in terms of anaesthesia management in possible future disasters.

Inclusion criteria

• 6 February 2023 earthquake victims who applied to our clinic within 2 months after the earthquake and received anaesthesia and underwent emergency fasciotomy and amputation in the orthopaedic operating room, regardless of gender, aged 18 years and over.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who are not earthquake survivors and under 18 years of age and who have undergone surgery other than fasciatomy or amputation will not be included.