Fasciatomy for Crush Injury; the Results of Two Years Fallow up in Bam Earthquake

Beigi, A.; Norian, S.E.; Goharian, V.; Ghoraishi, M.; Taheri, H.; Sehhat, S.

Fasciatomy for Crush Injury; the Results of Two Years Fallow up in Bam Earthquake

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

A. Beigi ¹

S.E. Norian ²

V. Goharian ³

M. Ghoraishi ⁴

H. Taheri ⁴

S. Sehhat ⁵

¹ Assistant Professor of General and Vascular Surgery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Al- Zahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran

² Assistant Professor of General Surgery, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Al-Zahra Hospital, Esfahan, Iran

³ Resident of Thoracic Surgery, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Al-Zahra Hospital, Esfahan, Iran

⁴ Resident of General Surgery, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Al-Zahra Hospital, Esfahan, Iran

⁵ Professor of Surgery, Esfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Esfahan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction & Objective: At 5:30 AM of 25th December 2003 a strong earthquake was occurred in
Bam that led to 80 thousands death and traumatic patients. St Zahra hospital as a referral center admitted 255
patients in twenty patients because of soft tissue injury in upper and lower extremity fasciatomy were done.
The main aim of this study is evaluation of complication and outcome of these patients.
Material & Methods: In 20 cases of fasciatomy of 26 extremities were undergone fasciatomy. In 24
months of follow-up, sensation and motor function of limbs and ROM of joints were evaluated.
Results: All of patient after 24 months could walk without help and ROM of joints were within normal
ranges. In 7 patients (11 extremities) the sensation were as hyposthesia or hyperesthesia. The others had good
or normal sensation in extremities. Only in one patient because of radical debridment, sensation was present
only in safenous dermatome. The rest patients had good sensation in palmar region.
Conclusions: Fasciatomy is not only a safe procedure but also necessary for limb salvages.
Fasciatomy also can preserve normal function of limbs. For best results, physical therapy and prosthesis
usage is necessary for patients. Even if fasciatomy can not preserve limb function it must do, because of limb
salvage.

Keywords

Fasciatomy

Bam Earthquake

Crush Injury