Hafiz-ur-rehman, Rwez Anjum M Parwez, Mehtab Ahmed Pirwani, Ghulam Mustafa Kk, Sohail Khan, Lutfullah Baloch, Najib Ur Rehman, Quraishi M A.
Management of earthquake victims at disaster places.
J Pak Orthop Assoc Jan ;25(1):43-7.

Objective: The government would start the functions of an agency in collaboration with medical societies, and make a plan to educate and prepare well trained nation to be able to manage disaster victims. Place and Duration of Study: During management of earthquake victims at different disaster places of Azad Kashmir in October 2005 by the orthopaedic surgeons of Department Orthopaedic Surgery Civil Hospital Karachi. Study Design: Prospective, quasi-experimental study. Subject and Methods: Experience of orthopaedic surgeons during the management of earthquake victims at different disaster places of 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Kashmir Pakistan. First team worked at different disaster places of Shink Yari and later at Abottabad. Second team managed earthquake victims and established a field base Camp Tent Hospital at Battgram. Third team had taken over from second disaster team to achieve the task. Results: Managed more than 758 earthquake victims at different earthquake disaster places of Azad Kashmir Pakistan. Out of which 724 cases were managed by (95.50%) closed reduction and immobilizion with plaster of paris (P.O.P) cast, while open reduction was done in 14 cases (1.89%). 8 cases (1.05%) referred to major centres after giving emergency management. 8 cases (1.05%) were of traumatic amputation managed by refashioning, 1 case (0.13%) of chronic Osteomyelitis and 1 case (0.13%) of open fracture were treated by debridement and rotational flap with external fixation respectively. Established field base camp tent hospital included orthopaedics operation theatre, O.P.D and postoperative indoor ward at Battgram. Conclusion: The natural disaster place means all sources for life are destroyed. Orthopaedic surgeon and other team members must be oriented about hazards of disaster places and to take care of themselves during the management of earthquake victims at disaster places. Orthopaedic surgeons would justify at the time of planning for surgery at disaster places. It is ideal to manage conservatively or either refer to nearest hospitals because in orthopaedic surgery without post operative care and follow up it is impossible to achieve the goal.

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