2023-12-28 07:11:05
Fireworks are extremely dangerous – illegal pyrotechnics have a devastating effect
Vienna/St. Pölten (OTS) – Every year around 200 people in Austria suffer accidents due to gunfire. Pyrotechnics is obviously a great attraction for young men. Two thirds of all those injured by firecrackers are under 24 years old, and one in eight is under 14 years old. These are the age group who handle fireworks and have accidents, especially towards the end of the year. Above all, those fireworks and firecrackers that are not permitted in Austria and are primarily purchased in neighboring countries pose a particularly great danger.
Despite the best protective measures, firecracker injuries are often serious injuries with lasting physical impairments.
The use of pyrotechnics can result in serious injury, especially if safety precautions are not followed. An uncontrolled detonation of pyrotechnics can result in burns, cuts, abrasions, mostly on the arms, legs and face, but also eye injuries and other traumatic damage. Due to the high explosive power of explosive devices, which are often illegally purchased and/or modified, many young people suffer war-like injuries every year, which can lead to death.
Accidents caused by pyrotechnics: The face, eyes and hands are particularly at risk
In order to treat affected areas of the body (e.g. in the case of amputations), and in the best case to restore them and improve the appearance of the burned skin, plastic surgery is an essential part of the treatment plan. »Especially in the case of facial injuries, it is essential to repair the facial tissue. Cuts or traumatic injuries require plastic surgery to treat bones, muscles, nerves and skin. In the case of the most severe burns, it may be necessary to remove damaged tissue and perform microsurgical reconstruction. Reconstructive surgery helps improve the function and appearance of the affected areas. Injuries to the eyelid and regions adjacent to the eye are also treated as standard by us plastic surgeons,” explains Primarius Assoc.-Prof. Dr. Klaus F. Schrögendorfer, Head of the Clinical Department for Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery at the St. Pölten University Hospital.
»Unfortunately, hand injuries caused by pyrotechnics are also very common. These typically require multiple precise surgical interventions to restore functionality using microsurgical techniques. Hand surgery is one of the four pillars of plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery,” confirms Priv.-Doz. Dr. Konstantin Bergmeister, PhD, specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, senior physician at the University Hospital St. Pölten.
Horrifying accident with fireworks on New Year’s Eve 2022
Thanks to the optimal functioning of the rescue chain and the quick action of everyone involved, a young man was saved despite serious, life-threatening injuries and burns. Despite multiple resuscitation, an open chest with severe heart injury, third degree burns and the complete amputation of the right forearm, the patient was not only saved but also rehabilitated into life. Through plastic-reconstructive surgery, the open thorax with the exposed heart might be covered with flaps, the arm might be prepared for optimized prosthetic care with microsurgical nerve transfers, and the face might be largely reconstructed despite the loss of the right eye.
“This case particularly shows the serious consequences that firecracker injuries can lead to and how indispensable and important plastic surgery is in the interdisciplinary care of these seriously injured people,” says the team for plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at the University Hospital St. Pölten, which was directly involved in the treatment of this tragic case.
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