Prognostic Factors in the Management of Earthquake-Related Soft Tissue Injuries: A Single-Center Experience

There is limited evidence for the early and rapid assessment of earthquake-related soft tissue injuries. This research examined parameters that can be utilized to identify the prognosis of patients with these injuries.

This retrospective study was conducted at Erciyes University. Patients injured in the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake in Türkiye in 2023 were enrolled. The effect of injury types, trauma, and injury severity scores (TRISS), and specific laboratory values of the patients at the time of application on the success of soft tissue reconstruction was investigated.

A total of 61 patients were enrolled in the study. The median TRISS scores were 98.35 in Group 1, 88.20 in Group 2, and 57.35 in Group 3. The TRISS scores exhibited statistically significant differences between the groups. The TRISS score of Group 3 was found to be significantly lower than those of Groups 1 and 2 (p<0.001, p<0.011, respectively). Prolongation of the time spent under the wreckage and elevated TRISS scores were correlated with an increase in the number of injury debridements, a decrease in injury closure success, an increase in the frequency of Acinetobacter baumanii reproduction, an increase in the need for amputation, an increase in mortality, and hospitalization costs (p<0.05).

In the early and rapid assessment of earthquake-related soft tissue injuries, the time spent under the wreckage and the TRISS score were crucial parameters in determining the prognosis. The parameters mentioned above may guide the management of patients with earthquake-related soft tissue injuries.