Penetrating facial injury from angle grinder use: management and prevention

Lachlan M Carter,Iain Varley,Craig J Wales,Martin R Telfer

doi:10.1186/1746-160x-4-1

Lachlan M Carter, Iain Varley + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-160x-4-1

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Abstract

Injuries resulting from the use of angle grinders are numerous. The most common sites injured are the head and face. The high speed disc of angle grinders does not respect anatomical boundaries or structures and thus the injuries produced can be disfiguring, permanently disabling or even fatal. However, aesthetically pleasing results can be achieved with thorough debridement, resection of wound edges and careful layered functional closure after reduction and fixation of facial bone injuries. A series of penetrating facial wounds associated with angle grinder use are presented and the management and prevention of these injuries discussed.

Highlights

Injuries resulting from the use of angle grinders are numerous
We present a series of three penetrating facial wounds associated with angle grinder use
Case 1 Case 1 occurred when a left-handed, 26 year old male was injured as the blade of the angle grinder he was using shattered at high speed

Summary

Introduction

Injuries resulting from the use of angle grinders are numerous. The increasing number of recorded angle grinder injuries during three consecutive years (2000 to 2002) reported in the HASS/LASS data is alarming. The vast majority of facial injuries are associated with foreign body penetration following shattering of the abrasive wheel. We present a series of three penetrating facial wounds associated with angle grinder use.

Results

Conclusion