Atypical airbag injuries in a child: A case report

Airbags have significantly reduced the severity of injuries sustained in vehicular crashes. The most common injuries are minor abrasions, contusions, etc., but severe and fatal thermal burns and craniofacial fractures may occur nonetheless. We report a rare case of atypical airbag injuries suffered by the front seat occupant of a car following airbag deployment in a high-velocity frontal collision. The injuries appeared to be a combination of thermal burns, chemical burns and mechanical injuries. A detailed evaluation of the mechanism of such injuries is needed in order to devise preventive strategies and avoid their recurrence.