[BLEACHER COLLAPSE - A UNIQUE MASS-CASUALTY ORTHOPAEDIC EVENT].

Abstract

Introduction: On 16 May 2021 a mass-casualty incident (MCI) was declared in Jerusalem after a bleacher (tribune) collapsed in a synagogue in a nearby town. All the injured patients were transferred to three hospitals. The aim of this study is to describe the injuries and management of this unique MCI to help better understand and prepare us and other institutions for similar events in the future with the same mechanism of injury.

Methods: Data was collected from the hospitals' electronic database. Documented cases of the injured in the mass casualty event were included in the study. Collected data includes demographics, diagnosis of orthopedic injuries, treatment, duration of hospitalization, and follow-up.

Results: In this mass casualty event, 265 patients were treated; all the patients were males with a mean age of 17.4 years (range 9-47). Two patients died at the accident scene and one patient died a week after admission, he suffered from a major head injury. Thirteen patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. Regarding the orthopedic injuries, ninety-six fractures were documented. Forty-three orthopedic surgeries were performed on patients in the cohort. Seventeen surgeries were conducted during the 24 hours from the time of the patients' admission, twenty after 24 hours, and 6 surgeries were returns to the operation theatre for various of reasons. The average time of patient hospitalization was 3.4 days (range 1-53 days). Only 66 patients sought follow-up care at their initial-treating hospital after discharge.

Conclusions: Bleachers are widely used throughout the world for various events. Our experience shows that hospitals should be prepared for this type of unique mass-casualty accident that leads to many musculoskeletal injuries.