Unusual penetrating preauricular injury by firework rocket

Abstract

A 36-year-old young man presented to the emergency department (ED), on Chinese New Year’s eve with a stray firework rocket penetrating over the right preauricular region (Fig. 1). He was a bystander on a personal fireworks display. A conical-plastic rocket with attached wooden stick was launched from the ground, which got out of control immediately, and veered horizontally into the crowd. There was not enough time to dodge the flying rocket. A facial computed tomography (CT scan) demonstrated a hypodense linear foreign body entering at the right preauricular area, and tunneled subcutaneously through the superficial parotid region (Fig. 2). Surgical debridement and repair were performed that showed a 0.8 9 0.8 cm wound at the right preauricular area, with a stick inside and 4 cm in penetration to the subcutaneous layer just beyond the ear lobe. In addition, a small inverse Y-shaped laceration at the right ear lobe, and a 8-cm pocket at the postauricular area were also noted. After surgery, he was discharged with an uneventful recovery. Discussion