Severe Craniofacial Trauma From Defective Airbag Deployment

Airbags are designed to reduce morbidity and mortality during motor vehicle collisions; however, rare manufacturing defects may result in catastrophic injuries. We report a unique case of a 45-year-old woman involved in a low-speed collision, who sustained projectile-induced airbag trauma. Deployment of a defective airbag expelled a metallic projectile, causing complex panfacial fractures, extensive maxillary bone loss, and a full-thickness palatal defect. The patient initially received suboptimal management, necessitating secondary reconstruction at a tertiary referral center. Revision surgery included panfacial fracture realignment, orbital floor reconstruction with bone grafting, and closure of the palatal defect using a temporalis musculofascial flap, achieving satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes. This case underscores the distinct and potentially lethal mechanism of airbag failure associated with recalled inflators; highlights the importance of early recognition, thorough reporting, and multidisciplinary management; and provides critical insights for improving patient safety and guiding clinicians encountering similar injuries.