Aim:Earthquakes are devastating natural disasters that cause mass casualties. Recently, a catastrophic double earthquake-affected ten cities with a population of 15 million in southern and central Turkey. We aimed to identify the patterns and types of neurosurgical injuries sustained by victims of the earthquakes.
Patients and Methods: In this descriptive observational study, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of a university hospital located in one of the ten cities affected by the earthquake.
Material and Methods:In this descriptive observational study, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of a university hospital located in one of the ten cities affected by the earthquake.
Results:A total of 1,612 patients with earthquake-related injuries were admitted during the study period, of which 139 (8.6%) had neurosurgical injuries. The mean age of the patients was 42.4 ± 21.1 years (median, 42 years), and 53.2% of them were female. Of the 139 patients with neurosurgical injuries, 41 (29.5%) had craniocerebral injuries, 95 (68.3%) had spinal injuries, and three (2.2%) had both craniocerebral and spinal injuries. A total of 31 surgeries were performed (22.3 %) (five [3.6%] for craniocerebral injuries and 26 [18.7 %] for spinal injuries). Ninety-eight patients (70.5%) had concomitant systemic traumas. The overall mortality rate was 5.75%, with crush syndrome (n = 4, 50%), being the leading cause of death, followed by neurosurgical pathologies (n = 3, 37.5%) and pneumonia with septic shock (n = 1, 12.5 %).
Conclusion:Neurosurgical injury is an important cause of post-earthquake mortality and morbidity. To ensure efficient medical rescue and judicious resource allocation, it is essential to recognize the characteristics of earthquake-related neurosurgical injuries. This study provides valuable information regarding the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of neurosurgical injuries in earthquake-affected patients. Our findings highlight the need for prompt diagnosis and management of such injuries, particularly in those with concomitant systemic trauma.