Genital burns caused by cell phone combustion following a motorcycle accident: a case report

Thermal injuries are common in emergency departments, but rarely involve isolated genital burns. However, burns caused by electronic devices, particularly cell phones, represent an emerging concern.

A 47-year-old man presented with third-degree burns to the left anterior thigh, penis, and scrotum, covering 2% of the total body surface area, accompanied by facial fractures. These injuries had been sustained in a collision. A burned cell phone was discovered in clothing adjacent to the perineum, leading to the suspicion that it had ignited in his trouser pocket, causing burns in addition to trauma from the collision. He underwent surgical debridement and split-thickness skin grafting on hospital day 14. Despite the severity of the injury, the patient achieved complete epithelialization and recovered pre-injury urological and sexual function by the 3-month follow-up. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of deep dermal and full-thickness genital burns caused by cell phone combustion.

This case highlights the potential for severe thermal injuries from cell phones, possibly exacerbated by trauma, and underscores the importance of patient education regarding the safe handling and storage of cell phones, particularly during activities like cycling or motorcycling.