Airbag-induced fracture in a patient with osteoporosis.

Burns Clinic Medical Center, Petosky, Michigan, USA.

Since the introduction of automotive airbag technology, patterns of airbag-induced injuries have emerged. Various types of upper-extremity trauma including fractures have been described. Previous reports have focused on the location of the forearm before deployment as the major determinant of fracture. We describe a case of forearm fracture resulting from an airbag deployment in a lupus patient with documented osteoporosis. Bone strength has recently been determined in laboratory testing to be an important factor determining airbag-induced fracture risk. An airbag-induced forearm fracture in an otherwise healthy individual may be an indicator of reduced bone strength.

PMID: 9715210 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]