External fixator frames as interim damage control for limb injuries: experience in the 2010 Haiti earthquake

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Disaster medicine
• Trauma care

Background:

• The 2010 Haiti earthquake caused widespread devastation and mass casualties near Port-au-Prince.
• The Israeli Defense Forces Field Hospital (IDF hospital) provided critical early medical response.
• This study focuses on orthopedic damage control techniques implemented during the crisis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the application and outcomes of external fixator frames for orthopedic damage control.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of temporary bone stabilization and soft tissue management in a mass casualty setting.
• To provide insights for future large-scale disaster response scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from patient files at the IDF hospital.
• Focus on the use and immediate outcomes of external fixator frames for limb stabilization.
• Procedures performed in a field operating room with limited resources.

Main Results:

• 221 orthopedic procedures performed out of 244 total surgeries.
• 73 fractures stabilized using external fixator frames, primarily on lower limbs (femur, tibia/fibula).
• All patients received urgent stabilization and were subsequently transferred or discharged; no deaths occurred.

Conclusions:

• External fixator frames are a viable method for orthopedic damage control in mass casualty incidents.
• The described approach combines bone stabilization with essential soft tissue care.
• Findings offer guidelines for military and civilian orthopedic disaster response.