The pagers explosions in Beirut: Injury profiles, surgical care, and medical interventions—A descriptive study from a tertiary care medical center

BACKGROUND On September 17, 2024, multiple small-scale explosions caused by pager devices occurred across Lebanon, resulting in numerous casualties. This study aims to characterize the injury patterns, surgical interventions, and hospitalization needs following this unprecedented event. METHODS This case series included patients admitted to a tertiary care medical center in Lebanon following the explosions. Data on patient demographics, injury mechanisms, surgical procedures, and hospitalization outcomes were collected from medical records and analyzed. The findings were compared with injury patterns observed in military and civilian blast events. RESULTS A total of 37 patients with a mean age of 35.5 years (94.6% single males) were included. The injuries were predominantly caused by blast and shrapnel mechanisms, with extremities (83.8%), face (83.3%), and eyes (80.6%) being the most affected regions. Severe head, chest, and abdominal injuries were less frequent. All patients required surgical intervention, primarily amputations (83.8%), wound repair (75.0%), and removal of foreign bodies (54.1%). The majority (59.5%) of patients were admitted to regular floors, while 35.1% required intensive care unit admission. The mean ± SD intensive care unit length of stay was 1.83 ± 2.78 days. Postoperative complications included hemodynamic instability (13.5%) and bleeding (8.1%). The mortality rate was 2.7%. CONCLUSION The injury patterns reported in this study closely align with those reported in military combat trauma, emphasizing the need for comprehensive trauma care systems. These findings provide valuable insights into the medical challenges posed by explosion-related incidents and highlight the importance of preparedness and multidisciplinary management in similar disasters. Further comparative studies are needed to refine trauma protocols for high-risk environments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic and Epidemiologic; Level V.