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Home-made explosive found inside injured Afghan.
Steven Pengelly1, N Moore2, D Burgess3
1Department of Surgery, MDHU Derriford, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps
|June 28, 2014
Summary
This case report details the first documented instance of embedded home-made explosive (HME) in a patient following detonation. It highlights the unique clinical and radiological findings, management, and safe disposal of HME injuries.
Area of Science:
- Forensic pathology
- Trauma surgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Extensive literature exists on metal fragments from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in patients.
- However, clinical and radiological descriptions of embedded home-made explosive (HME) are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case of partially detonated HME found embedded in a patient's forearm.
- To discuss the medical management, associated risks, and safe disposal of such injuries.
Main Methods:
- Case report presentation.
- Discussion of clinical presentation, radiological imaging, surgical intervention, and hazardous material management.
Main Results:
- A partially detonated HME was successfully located within the patient's forearm.
- The case highlights the unique challenges in managing HME-related trauma.
Conclusions:
- This case underscores the need for awareness and specific protocols for managing embedded HME injuries.
- Safe handling and disposal are critical to mitigate risks to patients and medical personnel.