Case series of destructive penetrating airbag injuries at a level 1 trauma center in Qatar

Abstract text (incl. references and figure legends)
Case history

6 patients were involved in motor vehicle collisions (MVC) with deployment of airbag.

Clinical findings

One patient was in cardiac arrest, was revived but had no brain activity. She had a large foreign body in the hard palate with fracture of the mandible. One patient had fractured mandible and zygoma. One patient had a penetrating wound in the neck. Three patients had penetrating chest injuries.

Investigation/Results

CT imaging of all patients showed a hyperdense rounded foreign body lodged within the site of impact. (Fig.1)

Diagnosis

Case 1 – Traumatic brain (TBI), cervical spine injury and death

Case 2 – TBI, facial bone fractures

Case 3 – Left lung laceration

Case 4 – Right lung laceration

Case 5 – TBI and zone 2 penetrating neck injury

Case 6 – Right chest wall injury

Therapy and Progressions

The patient with cardiac arrest expired in the ICU within a week due to severe TBI. The patient with left chest injury underwent exploration in the operating room (OR), he developed respiratory failure and is currently on ECMO. The rest of the patients underwent exploration in OR and had uneventful recovery.

Comments

All the patients suffered from injuries caused by the same component of the airbag inflator after deployment. (Figure 2). The National Highway Traffic Safety administration estimates that nearly 50,000 lives have been saved by airbags since 1987. (1) Recent reports of significant injuries and deaths due to airbags have been reported including a global recall of millions of vehicles due to malfunctioning airbags. (2) This highlights the potential dangers of a supposed safety measure which may result in devastating consequences.

References 1- Newer cars are safer cars. NHTSA. (n.d.). https://www.nhtsa.gov/newer-cars-are-safer-cars 2- Jothee S. Fatal penetrating neck injury due to defective airbag inflator. Forensic Sci Int. 2018 Oct;291:e4-e7

Fig 1. Case 1 & Case 2: TBI, C-spine & facial fractures.

Fig 2. Inflator component

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