Tag: Osaid Alser

The survey collected data on 12 anatomical regions, mechanisms of trauma, and general medical conditions. 78 healthcare workers reported 23 726 trauma related injuries and 6960 injuries related to weapons. The most common traumatic injuries were burns (n=4348, 18.3%), lower limb injuries (n=4258, 17.9%), and upper limb injuries (n=3534, 14.9%). Explosive injuries accounted for most of the weapon related trauma (n=4635, 66.6%), predominantly affecting the head (n=1289, 27.8%), whereas firearm injuries disproportionately affected the lower limbs (n=526, 22.6%). Healthcare workers reported 4188 people with chronic disease across 11 domains requiring long term treatment.

… Healthcare workers reported a total of 5405 general medical and infectious disease presentations. The most common general medical conditions were malnutrition (n=1002, 18.5%) and dehydration (n=865, 16.0%), reported by 59 (76%) and 54 healthcare workers (69%), respectively. Fifty four healthcare workers (69%) recorded sepsis in 631 patients with injury (11.7%), and 47 (60%) recorded gastroenteritis in 986 (18.2%). Healthcare workers reported 4188 people presenting to hospitals with chronic disease requiring long term treatment (see supplementary tables S2.17 and 2.18).

… This international healthcare worker reported survey highlights the scale and complexity of traumatic injuries and medical conditions in Gaza during the ongoing conflict. The volume, distribution, and military grade severity of injuries, indicate patterns of harm that exceed those reported in previous modern-day conflicts. These findings highlight the urgent need for resilient, context specific surveillance systems, designed to function amid sustained hostilities, resource scarcity, and intermittent telecommunications, to inform tailored surgical, medical, psychological, and rehabilitation interventions.