[Traumatic lesions caused by the "air-bag" system].

Abstract

Hand injuries have occurred due to inflation of an air bag security system during a high velocity car accident. A driver and a passenger retained by three-point lap-shoulder belts crashed on the central railing of a motorway during their vehicle lost of control due to aquaplaning. The air bags inflated during the collision. The driver presented a superficial second degree burn with a 12 cm long blister on the radial side of the hand and distal forearm. The passenger suffered an intra-articular palmar avulsion fracture of the middle phalanx (PIP joint) and a mallet finger of the left fifth digit. The driver was treated conservatively and healed without sequelae. The passenger had K-wire fixation, after fracture repositioning, under local anaesthesia. Physiotherapy was started early. K-wires were removed at three weeks and active therapy continued. 6 months later the digit presented PIP joint stiffness and a 20 degrees flexion deformity. To the best of our knowledge this is the first description of upper extremity lesions due to inflation of an air bag device.