It was announced that 850 people experienced limb loss in the earthquake disaster that occurred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6. Lecturer Kübra Akkalay stated that limb losses occurred due to bone fractures, muscle crush injuries, and soft tissue injuries in individuals trapped under the rubble, emphasizing that the environment of patients should be arranged according to their new conditions, and access to physical and psychological health services should be provided. Akkalay, drawing attention to the importance of limb care after amputation, highlights that patients need to be informed in this regard to enable prosthesis use.
Provision of orthoses and prostheses should be ensured for earthquake victims who lost their limbs
Lecturer Kübra Akkalay, Head of Orthopedic Prosthesis and Orthosis Program, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Üsküdar Üniversitesi, provided information about what needs to be done for those who experienced limb loss after the major earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, and about prosthesis use.
After amputation, the individual should be rehabilitated and enabled to start using a prosthesis
Akkalay, stating that amputation is the surgical removal of a part or the entirety of an extremity, along with its bone, from the body, said, “For individuals who undergo amputation and experience limb loss, the priority is to create a good stump that will allow for functional prosthetic use of the remaining extremity. It is necessary to quickly heal the remaining part of the extremity and rehabilitate the individual to enable them to start using a prosthesis.”
850 people experienced limb loss in the Kahramanmaraş earthquake
Akkalay, reminding that hundreds of people experienced limb loss in the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquake disaster that occurred on February 6 and affected 11 of our provinces, explained, “Following the 7.8 and 7.7 magnitude earthquakes, 850 people among those rescued from under the rubble experienced limb loss. These losses occurred due to bone fractures, muscle crush injuries, and soft tissue injuries in individuals trapped under the rubble.”
Environment should be arranged according to the new situation, social reorientation should be accelerated!
Akkalay, drawing attention to the need to determine the patient's functional status and potential for adapting to a rehabilitation program through a detailed examination, said, “Especially for citizens affected by the earthquake, access to physical and psychological health services must be provided. After the earthquake, the needs of individuals requiring orthoses, prostheses, and wheelchairs must be met. Psychological support facilities for earthquake victims who lost their limbs, and the necessary resources for the provision of orthoses and prostheses should be ensured. Considering their new conditions, their environment should be arranged in a way that protects them from hazards. Service areas necessary for the production and application of prostheses and orthoses should be opened in hospitals.” she suggested.
Post-limb loss care is important
Akkalay, referring to potential early complications such as wear and tear on the residual limb, said, “Patients should be informed about limb care for potential complications. Stump shaping and elastic bandaging for edema control should be taught to the patient. Correct sitting and lying positions should be shown to prevent contracture formation in the joint.”
Akkalay listed what the patient should pay attention to for stump care as follows:
“The stump should be observed daily for redness, abrasions, and all sides of the stump should be viewed using a mirror. No band-aids should be applied. It should be washed daily with soap and dried. The stump sock should not be burnt or torn. Recommended exercises should be done regularly.”
Limb losses are more common in men
Lecturer Kübra Akkalay, reminding that limb losses can occur after work accidents, occupational diseases, due to congenital anomalies, congenitally, after accidents or natural disasters, said, “Considering the causes of limb loss, outside of disasters affecting communities such as earthquakes, more losses are observed in men. Limb losses due to work injuries and occupational diseases are more frequently encountered in individuals aged 20-40. In children, limb losses are observed to occur congenitally, due to conditions like congenital anomalies.”
Developing technology brings patient-specific health solutions
Akkalay, noting that with the advancement of technology, devices and materials used in the field of prosthetics and orthotics have also undergone change and innovation, stated, “Developments and innovations are rapidly becoming widespread for the production of prostheses that are suitable for human anatomy and offer multiple functionalities simultaneously, as well as lighter and more functional orthoses. With software technology, the design of products to be used, and three-dimensional product designs controlled with computer support, can be realized. With the developing technology in orthotics-prosthetics science, the further development of patient-specific health solutions is becoming easier.”
Every stage from manufacturing to repair of prostheses should be patient-specific
Akkalay, stating that personalized treatment methods are preferred to be planned and applied, explained, “Patient-specific medical products must be produced and applied with measurements and trials for use in a particular patient. The manufacturing, sale, application, maintenance, and repair of these prostheses must be carried out specifically for the patient. Patients should undergo trials to ensure their adaptation for the use of prostheses.”
Prosthetic components are decided according to the patient's conditions
“After amputation, temporary prosthetic use can be started immediately, or prosthetic use can be initiated after the suture sites on the stump heal and take a proper shape,” said Lecturer Kübra Akkalay, concluding her words as follows:
“For patients visiting Prosthesis Orthosis Production and Application Centers, the socket is created by taking individualized measurements. Prosthetic components are decided by evaluating conditions such as the patient's functional status and occupational situation. Static and dynamic adjustments are made by combining the socket and prosthetic components. Patients are provided with trials for prosthesis use to ensure adaptation. Patients are informed by the Prosthetist Orthotist about maintenance and important considerations.” DOI number: