• Sibel Basaran, Aylin Sariyildiz, Sila Olmez, Bugra Kundakci, and Omer Sunkar Bicer.
• Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Adana, Türkiye. Electronic address: sbasaran@cu.edu.tr.
• Injury. 2024 Nov 1; 55 (11): 111920111920.

BackgroundAmputations are among the most important traumatic injuries caused by earthquakes. However, data on amputee children and prosthesis application is quite limited in the literature. The aim of the study is to evaluate the injury-related data, stump problems, prosthesis application, difficulties and complications experienced with prosthesis during follow-up of children with 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake-related limb loss.Patients And MethodsSociodemographic and injury-related data, pre-amputation and post-amputation interventions, prosthesis application, current prosthetic problems, and revision surgeries of the amputee children were recorded.ResultsMedian age of patients (n = 102) admitted to our center was 13.0 years. 67.6 % of patients had one or more concomitant injuries. Median time and number of amputations were 4 (0-57) days and 1 (1-4), respectively. Of the total 120 amputations, 67.5 % (n = 81) were lower extremity amputations. Most common amputation levels were transtibial (29.1 %, n = 35), transfemoral (22.5 %, n = 27), and transhumeral (15.8 %, n = 19). Most amputees (56.8 %) underwent revision surgery after initial amputation. Median duration of time from amputation to prosthesis application was 184 (28-314) days. For 25 prostheses, a socket revision was required. Six patients had surgical revision of the stumps to allow prosthetic fit and mobility (due to bone overgrowth, soft tissue failure, heterotopic ossification).ConclusionLimited healthcare facilities, surgeries performed under emergency conditions, accompanying multiple traumas, inadequate follow-up conditions, and additional difficulties arising from the pediatric patient group lead to difficulties in the care of pediatric amputee patients. Our results will guide the care of this vulnerable patient population in the event of a similar unfortunate disaster.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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