Changes in patient admission patterns at orthopedics and traumatology outpatient clinics before and after the earthquakes on 6 February 2023 in Turkey

Abstract

Background The increase in orthopedic injuries after earthquakes imposes a significant burden on the health system. However, the impact of earthquakes on outpatient admissions remains unclear. This study compared patient admissions to the orthopedics and traumatology outpatient clinics before and after earthquakes. Methods The study was conducted at a tertiary university hospital near the earthquake zone. In total, 8,549 outpatient admissions were retrospectively analyzed. The study population was divided into pre-earthquake (pre-EQ) and post-earthquake (post-EQ) groups. Factors such as gender, age, city of origin, and diagnosis were compared between the groups. In addition, unnecessary outpatient utilization (UOU) was defined and analyzed. Results The pre-EQ and post-EQ groups included 4,318 and 4,231 patients, respectively. The two groups had no significant differences in age and sex distribution. However, the proportion of non-local patients increased after the earthquake. UOU was the most common reason for admission in both groups. The distribution of diagnoses differed significantly between the pre-EQ and post-EQ groups, with an increase in the number of trauma-related diagnoses and a decrease in UOU after the earthquake. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the effects of earthquakes on daily orthopedic practice are long-lasting. The pattern of outpatient admissions changes, with an increase in frequency of trauma-related diagnoses. Level of evidence: Observational study