Airbag injuries

Background

• Airbag deployment can cause injury via multiple mechanisms, such as:
  • Caustic injuries from aerosolized alkali (including sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate)
  • Blunt trauma from direct contact with airbag
  • Rapid deceleration and associated flexion and/or hyperextension injuries

Clinical Features

Burns

• Usually minor
• Related to direct contact with skin or heat from melted clothing
• Deployment releases small amount of alkali
  • Skin burns are usually minor
  • Ocular burns require irrigation, pH testing and ophtho follow up
  • Long-term sequelae are rare

Ocular Injuries

Corneal Abrasions from Airbag Deployment

Corneal Abrasions from Airbag Deployment

• Chemical keratitis
• Corneal Abrasion

Cervical and Thoracic Spine Injuries

• see Cervical spine fractures and dislocations
• see Thoracic trauma

Myocardial rupture

• Uncommon complication
• Can exist with barotrauma alone with the absence of rib fractures

Differential Diagnosis

Caustic Burns

• Caustic ingestion
• Caustic eye exposure (Caustic keratoconjunctivitis)
• Caustic dermal burn
• Airbag-related burns
• Hydrofluoric acid
• Tar burn
• Cement burn

Workup

• Depends on location/type of suspected injury

Management

• Skin: basic burn care
• Eye: copious irrigation, pH testing, ophthalmology consult
  • Consider conservative management with antibiotics, and a short course of steroids

Disposition

• Depends on type and severity of injury

See Also

• Caustic keratoconjunctivitis
• Burns
• Caustic burns