[Hand injuries by pyrotechnic articles--case report and reconstructive experimental investigations]

Injuries caused by explosions of fireworks often involve people's hands. The case of a young man who suffered severe hand injuries as well as damage to both eardrums and one eye is described. Reconstructive experimental investigations of the explosive effect of six different pyrotechnic articles were carried out using human hands from body donors. With the most powerful firecrackers that used to be legally available in Germany ("Super-Böller A", "Kanonenschlag") and a self-made one with 36 g gunpowder only blackening of the skin occurred. Three pyrotechnic articles not allowed in Germany ("La Bomba", "Color salute" and "Vogelschreck") caused serious injury to the hand's soft tissue and bones.