An overview of the orthopedic patient profile in the first five days following February 6th, 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquake: A single-center experience in the earthquake zone.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the patient profile at a medium-volume hospital located in the earthquake zone among patients who received orthopedic treatment within the first five days after the natural disaster that was considered a major earthquake. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between February 6th, 2023 and February 10th, 2023, a total of 338 patients (156 males, 182 females; mean age: 42.2±9.7 years; range, 0 to 87 years) who received orthopedic treatment in our center were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into four groups according to age as follows: infants (younger than one year of age), children (one to 13 years), adults (14 to 59 years), and elderly (60 years or older). RESULTS: Considering the age distribution, 291 (86%) patients were young adults. A total of 173 orthopedic surgeries were performed, including internal fixation in 63 patients, external fixation in 11 patients, upper/lower extremity fasciotomy in 47 patients, amputation in 39 patients, and soft tissue debridement in 13 patients. CONCLUSION: It is of utmost importance to recognize the principles of emergency fracture fixation and fasciotomy to successfully perform orthopedic surgeries after a natural disaster such as a major earthquake, particularly when the number of earthquake victims is considerably high.

Virulence Factors in Staphylococci Isolated From Nasal Cavities of Footballers.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the rate of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin producing Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin (mecA) and slime (icaA/icaD) genes in staphylococcal strains isolated from nasal cavities of footballers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nasal swab samples were taken from each footballers and a healthy control group for the isolation of staphylococcal strains. The polymerase chain reaction technique was used to determine Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, mecA and icaA/icaD genes in staphylococcal isolates. RESULTS: Among 91 S. aureus strains, the presence of mecA gene was detected as 9.9%. This ratio was 17.9% (27 of 151) among the coagulase-negative staphylococci. A significant difference was found between coagulase-negative staphylococci and S. aureus isolates regarding the presence of mecA gene (P < 0.001). As for the genes of the slime, icaA/icaD genes were detected in 198 of 242 (81.8%) strains. The occurrence of slime genes was 91.2% and 89.4% among the S. aureus coagulase and negative staphylococci, respectively (P > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the frequency of the mecA and slime genes when compared with the healthy control group and the football players (P < 0.01). Of 91 isolates, 22 were found to be methicillin resistant by the oxacillin disc diffusion method, whereas the remaining (220) were methicillin susceptible. Methicillin resistance was detected as 14.9% by the polymerase chain reaction method, whereas it was found as 9.1% by phenotypic methods. CONCLUSIONS: Early and accurate diagnosis of virulent staphylococcal strains is crucial because the virulent coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive staphylococcal strains in the nasal floras of footballers may be major potential sources of superficial and deep tissue infections.

Family compliance with the use of alarm devices in the treatment of monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis.

OBJECTIVE: In the treatment of monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE), enuretic alarm devices (EADs) are the first recommended treatment option. This study aimed to evaluate parental and child compliance with EAD treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty patients for whom EAD therapy was recommended were included in this study. The mean age of the patients was 10.4 years (5-16). All the patients were nursery or school children. Patients who did not return for their follow-up visits were called by phone, and verbal information were gathered about the use and performance success of the device. We documented the patients who used, and did not use the EAD with their reasons. RESULTS: Nineteen (36%) patients were able to use the EAD without any problems. Eight of the remaining 31 patients didn't return for control, and they could not be get in touch with, either. Of the 23 (46%) families whom we could get a contact, 4 families did not purchase EAD due to a decrease in the number of wet nights, 4 families due to compensatory payment, and 3 families due to reluctance of one of the parents. One family reported that they gave up the EAD treatment because of the disturbing loud volume of the device. Four families reported that their children refused to use the EAD. Four families said that they could not use the EAD regularly because the device frequently did not work properly. In this study, we could not keep in touch with 16% of the patients, and 46% of the patients stopped using or did not receive this therapy. CONCLUSION: Although EAD has been the priorly recommended alternative with its relatively higher success, and lower recurrence rates, our study demonstrated that the compliance of families with this treatment is below the expected level.

The Treatment of Recurrent Urothelial Tumors of the Upper Urinary System and at Urostomy Site following Radical Cystectomy with Intraureteral Bacillus Calmette-Guérin and Cryotherapy.

Urinary bladder carcinoma is the second most common cancer of the urinary system. The recurrence rate in the upper urinary system (UUS) for urothelial cancers is around 3% following radical cystectomy. The followup generally consists of imaging studies and urinary cytology, although there are no prospective data on the frequency, the mode, and the duration of followup. In patients carefully selected according to risk factors, kidney-sparing minimally invasive methods (ureteroscopic procedures, percutaneous approach, and local drug instillation) appear as contemporary alternatives for low-grade and low-stage primary UUS. In this paper, we present the patient who underwent radical cystectomy with urinary diversion ureterocutaneostomy, was diagnosed with widespread bilateral UUS tumors and recurrent tumor at the urostomy site at active followup, for which he was given local Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and cryotherapy, and was followed by disease-free for 2 years thereafter.

Comparison of infection and urosepsis rates of ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone prophylaxis before percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a prospective and randomised study.

This study aimed at determining the choice and administration duration of ideal antibiotic prophylaxis before percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) operation, a treatment modality for nephrolithiasis. The study included 90 patients who had no internal problem, yet had a negative urine culture and underwent a PNL operation. We compared infection rates between ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone groups and their subgroups. The results showed no statistical difference between ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone groups in terms of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) (CIP(P) = 0.306, CTX P = 0.334. As a result of this study no statistical difference was observed between ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone in terms of SIRS. It seems, however, reasonable to choose ceftriaxone, considering antibiotic sensitivity of microorganisms and detection of three cases accepted as urosepsis in the ciprofloxacin group. As there is no difference between short, and long-term prophylactic use of these antibiotics, preference of short-term prophylaxis for patients with no risk of infection will be important to avoid inappropriate antibiotic usage.