Tire explosion injuries

Twenty-five patients hospitalized with injuries sustained from tire explosions from 1980 to 1987 were reviewed. Injuries occurred directly from the tire rim or parts of its assembly, from the patient being thrown against adjacent unyielding structures, or a combination of these. Lethal or life-threatening injuries do occur, so these patients initially must be triaged as polytrauma patients. Resuscitation and expeditious attention to life-threatening injuries must be provided when necessary. Serious head, facial, eye, and upper extremity injuries occurred frequently. Pelvic and long-bone fractures, particularly those of the femur, are stabilized primarily as part of the overall treatment of the polytraumatized patient. Open fractures and fractures with arterial injuries and/or compartment syndromes are primarily decompressed, debrided, and appropriately stabilized. After life-threatening and limb-threatening injuries are attended, eye injuries that threaten sight should be addressed. While hand, wrist, and other upper extremity injuries that do not fall in the above categories may not require immediate or primary treatment, they are often critical in determining the patient's final outcome. This is particularly true since most patients are manual workers, often mechanics. Therefore, hand, wrist, and upper extremity injuries should be treated as early as possible and in parallel with other injuries to achieve optimal results and minimize impairment, disability, and time and economic loss from work. Strong emphasis should be placed on education and safety training in preventing this severe form of civilian trauma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)