Pneumonitis following grease gun injury

Grease gun trauma often involves subcutaneous injection of the grease because of the high pressures required for its industrial application. The case is presented of a man who developed a pneumonitis shortly after sustaining a grease gun injury, with injection of grease into his upper thigh associated with significant vascular damage. Pneumonitis has not previously been reported with this type of injury, and is likely to represent a systemic reaction to the local inflammatory response. Management of these injuries should incorporate early debridement with anticipation of underlying vascular trauma, and also an awareness of the potential systemic complications.