The aim of this study is to evaluate the musculoskeletal injuries related with 24 January 2020 Elazig/Türkiye earthquake and their treatment protocols. Data of patients applied to İnönü University Medical Faculty Hospital, Elazığ Training and Research Hospital and Malatya Training and Research Hospital emergency departments within 48 h after the earthquake, were evaluated retrospectively. Age, gender, soft tissue injuries and sites, fracture sites and types, fracture etiology, and treatment methods were evaluated. 247 patients were evaluated. 118 were women and 139 were men. There were 24 (9.7%) pediatric patients. Mean age was 37.3 (1–92) years. Waist majority of injuries were simple soft-tissue injuries. There were 103 fractures in 86 patients. Thirty-eight patients’ fractures were treated surgically. Every major disaster warrants retrospective studies so we can learn how to improve all levels of Emergency Medical Services. Great proportion of Elazıg earthquake victims had only simple soft tissue injuries such as sprain, laceration, or contusion. Many patients were injured due to reasons indirectly related to the destruction brought by the earthquake. Panic caused by the earthquake caused more injury than the destruction it brought.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of microfracture and intraarticular autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) injection on cartilage regeneration in a focal full-thickness chondral defect model created in the knee joint. Full-thickness chondral defects of 3 × 6 mm2 were surgically created in right medial femoral condyles (MFC) of New Zealand rabbits, and the rabbits were then divided into three groups according to treatment: Group 1 received only microfracture (mfx), Group 2 received mfx plus intraarticular ACP, and Group 3 received mfx; the defect was covered by the periosteum, and then, ACP was applied subperiosteally and intraarticularly. Twelve weeks after injection, the animals were sacrificed and the femoral condyles were evaluated macroscopically and histologically by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Then, histological sections were scored using the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) visual histological scale. Findings showed that in both mfx/ACP-treated groups, the defects were filled regularly and smoothly, the defects had a greater fill and good integration into the surrounding host tissue, and the repair matrix had more hyaline-like character. On the other hand, defects were filled with an irregular, fibrous cartilage in the mfx-treated group. Histological scores in Group 2 and Group 3 were better compared to Group 1. In the present study, we were able to demonstrate a beneficial effect of intraarticular administration of ACP as a coadjuvant of microfractures in order to regenerate hyaline-like cartilage in full-thickness chondral lesions in a rabbit model.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the type and number of traumatic injuries seen after devastating earthquakes and to evaluate the difficulties experienced in the treatment process in a primary affected center. Methods: Out of the 2176 patients who were treated in the emergency department, 372 (199 male and 173 female) patients with complete data were included in this single-center retrospective study. In addition to the demographic characteristics of the patients, orthopedic injuries, other organ system injuries, type of injury, treatments, mechanisms of injury, and time of presentation to the emergency department were recorded. Results: The most common age group for injury was 20-30 years old, consisting of 73 patients (19.62%), and the second most common age group was between 40 and 50, with 72 patients (19.35%). Injury after being trapped under rubble was seen in 152 (40.86%) patients, while non-debris causes were more common in 220 patients (59.14%). The most common site of injury was in the lower extremities, with 111 patients (29.84%), while multiple injuries were seen in 109 patients (29.3%). Lower extremity fractures were mostly seen in long bones such as the femur (12.28%) and tibia (11.4%). Upper extremity fractures, especially those due to falls, were most frequently in the distal radius (8.77%). After triage, 117 patients (31.45%) were hospitalized, whereas the majority of patients (58.33%) were discharged from the emergency department. Conclusion: This study has shown us that injuries following major earthquakes are of a wide spectrum and occur in large numbers and in a very short time. Even in a well-equipped hospital that is not affected by an earthquake, there are many barriers to appropriate management. The first 24 hours after an earthquake are critical. This period should be kept in mind while organizing and taking necessary precautions, and early responses to earthquakes should be meticulously planned. Cite this article as: Köroğlu M, Karakaplan M, Ergen E, et al. The initial response of a local hospital in the earthquake zone during the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes: Injuries and challenges. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc., 2023;57(6):315-321.

Musculoskeletal system is involved in about 20% of the patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. Although musculoskeletal tuberculosis generally affects spine and large joints (hip and knee), hand involvement of the tuberculosis is seen in 10% of the patients with musculoskeletal involvement and also isolated tuberculosis of hand or wrist is much rarer. In the following report, we discuss the case of a 23-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with isolated tuberculosis of the capitate and triquetrum bone. The patient presented with a nonhealing sinus on the left wrist joint. Imaging revealed lytic lesions of the capitate and triquetrum. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by histopathological examination on the bone specimen obtained from the debridement and curettage. Antituberculosis therapy was started postoperatively and 1 month later, healing of the sinus was observed. There was no sign of reactivation seen at follow-up 22 months after treatment.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence and location of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) sesamoid bones using computed tomography (CT) images. Patients and methods: A total of 767 hands of 735 patients (503 males, 232 females; mean age: 36.9 +/- 17.0 years; range, 18 to 105 years) obtained from picture archiving and communication system were retrospectively analyzed between January 2016 and December 2019. The sesamoid bones of MCP joints I, II, III, IV, and V were recorded. Data including age, sex, side, number, pathologies, and location of the sesamoid bones were recorded. Results: The prevalence of sesamoid bones was found to be 100%, 37.61%, 1.17%, 0.5%, and 80% in MCP I, II, III, IV, and V, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the sex of the patient and presence of sesamoid bone at MCP II or MCP V (p>0.970 and p=0.176, respectively). The presence of sesamoid bone at MCP II was statistically significantly correlated with the presence of sesamoid bone at MCP V (p0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of MCP V sesamoid bone is higher than previous studies from our country. The CT of hand can be used to determine sesamoid fractures and degenerative conditions of sesamoids.