The Kashmir Earthquake Experience

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Disaster Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• The 2005 Kashmir earthquake, a magnitude 7.6 event, caused widespread devastation and a high number of casualties.
• The Bone and Joint Hospital in Kashmir faced an unprecedented influx of orthopedic trauma patients following the disaster.
• Hospitals must be prepared for mass casualty events that exceed normal operational capacities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the orthopedic trauma patterns resulting from the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.
• To analyze the challenges encountered by a specialized hospital managing mass casualties.
• To provide insights into disaster preparedness for orthopedic care.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patient records admitted to the Bone and Joint Hospital within 10 days post-earthquake.
• Analysis of admission numbers, daily peaks, and patient distribution.
• Description of outreach strategies and resource management implemented by the hospital.

Main Results:

• The hospital received 468 orthopedic patients, with 463 admitted in the first 5 days.
• Daily admissions peaked at 153 patients on the third day, significantly exceeding hospital capacity.
• Outreach methods and strategic manpower deployment were utilized to manage the patient surge.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the critical need for robust disaster response plans in healthcare facilities.
• Effective management of mass orthopedic trauma requires adaptable strategies and efficient resource allocation.
• Lessons learned from this event can inform future disaster preparedness protocols for orthopedic services.