Emir Zeynep, Güney Öznur, Çevik Kadir
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Türkiye.
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Türkiye.
Hand Ther. 2025 May 10:17589983251338744. doi: 10.1177/17589983251338744.
Although post-disaster rehabilitation is increasingly recognized as essential, the role of hand therapy remains underexplored. Following the two devastating earthquakes in Türkiye in 2023, which resulted in over 50,000 deaths and 120,000 injuries, this study presents experiences and practices in post-disaster hand therapy to address the existing knowledge gap.
This study aims to share post-earthquake hand therapy experiences, highlight patient care challenges, and provide recommendations for future disaster management.
This retrospective study involves patients who were transported from the disaster area to a tertiary hospital by ambulance. Each patient referred to hand therapy by the hand surgeon was treated and followed up by two hand therapists. The patients had various injuries, including compartment syndrome, fasciotomy, amputations, and fractures. All patients were seen at least once for therapy.
This retrospective study evaluated 24 patients aged 5-63 who were referred to a tertiary centre for hand therapy following the earthquake. All patients were trapped under rubble, with compartment syndrome, amputations, and fractures being the most common injuries. Therapy began on average 3-4 weeks post-disaster. Twelve patients completed treatment, while 10 were lost to follow-up. All patients developed joint limitations and deformities.
Our post-disaster hand therapy experiences have shown the necessity of educating the hand therapists and the other healthcare professionals before the disaster, approaching patients within a multidisciplinary framework and planning treatment, and placing emphasis on increasing functional recovery in the long term.
尽管灾后康复日益被视为至关重要，但手部治疗的作用仍未得到充分探索。2023年土耳其发生两次毁灭性地震，造成5万多人死亡和12万人受伤，本研究介绍了灾后手部治疗的经验和做法，以填补现有知识空白。
本研究旨在分享地震后手部治疗经验，突出患者护理挑战，并为未来灾害管理提供建议。
这项回顾性研究涉及通过救护车从灾区转运至三级医院的患者。每位由手外科医生转诊至手部治疗的患者均由两名手部治疗师进行治疗和随访。患者有各种损伤，包括骨筋膜室综合征、筋膜切开术、截肢和骨折。所有患者至少接受过一次治疗。
这项回顾性研究评估了24名年龄在5至63岁之间的患者，他们在地震后被转诊至三级中心接受手部治疗。所有患者均被困在废墟下，骨筋膜室综合征、截肢和骨折是最常见的损伤。治疗平均在灾后3至4周开始。12名患者完成治疗，10名患者失访。所有患者均出现关节活动受限和畸形。
我们的灾后手部治疗经验表明，在灾难发生前对手部治疗师和其他医疗专业人员进行培训、在多学科框架内接诊患者并规划治疗以及长期强调提高功能恢复的必要性。
