Airbag Burns: An Unfortunate Consequence of Motor Vehicle Safety

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Thousands of people are injured in motor vehicle collisions daily and mandated installation of airbags protect passengers but can also cause injuries from deployment including cutaneous burns. We sought to characterize the patterns and outcomes of burns resulting from airbag deployment by performing a retrospective review of all patients evaluated by the burn service from 5/1/2015-4/30/2019. Inclusion criteria was patients of all ages with burn injuries related to airbag deployment. Demographic data, burn characteristics, and outcomes were reviewed. Seventeen patients met inclusion criteria: 82.4% female, 17.6% male. The average age was 40.4 years. Fifteen patients had second degree and two had third degree burns. The average TBSA was 0.45%. The hands or upper extremity (88%) were most often injured, but there were two chest, one neck, and one anterior thigh burn. Eight patients suffered multiple burns. Burn etiology (chemical vs. thermal) was often not specified. No patients required hospitalization or surgical intervention, and all wounds healed with wound care. The average time to re-epithelialization was 11 days. Although airbags prevent mortality and serious injury, the exothermic chemical reaction that inflates the airbag is responsible for deployment related burns. Since there is a chemical and thermal component, all airbag related burns should undergo chemical decontamination on initial presentation. Burns related to airbag deployment tend to be small and do not require grafting, however, patients suffer from associated pain, scarring, and burn management can be a financial and time burden to the patient.</jats:p>

A case of retinal detachment resulting from air bag deployment

“…3,6,7 Reported ocular injuries include eyelid lacerations, periorbital fractures, corneal abrasions, hyphemas, lens dislocations, angle recessions, corneoscleral lacerations, alkaline corneal burns, cyclodialysis, retinal and vitreous hemorrhages, and traumatic macular holes. 2,[7][8][9] Chemical injuries to the eye can cause severe and irreversible eye damage as well as skin burns. 2,9 Alkaline burns in the eye caused by the influence of hazardous gases such as carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, ammonia, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, etc.…”

“…2,[7][8][9] Chemical injuries to the eye can cause severe and irreversible eye damage as well as skin burns. 2,9 Alkaline burns in the eye caused by the influence of hazardous gases such as carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, ammonia, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, etc. present in the airbag can cause serious injuries, including lifelong blindness.…”

Deployed Airbag Causes Bullous Reaction Following a Motor Vehicle Accident

“…13 Cases of thermal burns, chemical burns, and irritant contact dermatitis after airbag deployment have been described in the literature. [4][5][6]11,12,14,15 Our patient's distal right lower leg was covered with a cast for osteomyelitis, and no blisters had developed in this area. It is likely that the transfer of airbag contents occurred during the process of unbuckling his seatbelt, which could explain the bullae that developed on the right flank.…”

“…A irbags are lifesaving during motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), but their deployment has been associated with skin issues such as irritant dermatitis 1 ; lacerations 2 ; abrasions 3 ; and thermal, friction, and chemical burns. [4][5][6] Ocular issues such as alkaline chemical keratitis 7 and ocular alkali injuries 8 also have been described.…”

Prompt Management of Airbag Burn Injuries Leads to Optimized Patient Outcomes: A Pilot Study

“…Motor vehicle collisions (MVC) cause more than 7,500 injuries in the United States every day [ 1 ]. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that in 2019, 16,629 drivers and 5,586 passengers were injured or killed by MVCs [ 2 ].…”