Fatal propeller injuries: Three autopsy case reports

Ihama, Yoko; Ninomiya, Kenji; Noguchi, Masamichi; Fuke, Chiaki; Miyazaki, Tetsuji

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2009.04.006

Cited by 16 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The etiologies of wound infection in our patients have all been described for water-related sources [10]. S. auerus and candida have been described as water-related or commensals.…”

Section: Seawater Organismsmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…Organisms may be impelled deep into the contused or devascularized tissue. Oceans, lakes and inland waterways that are suitable for boating contain as many as 10 7 microorganisms/mL of water and as many as 180 species have been isolated from various waters [9]. Aquatic injury environments are commonly classified as freshwater, marine (salt) water-related, or contained water sources (swimming pools, hot tubs, whirlpools, and fish tanks) [10].…”

Section: Injury Evaluation and Initial Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In general, there are isolates common to all natural water sources and others which are more specific to the particular environment ( Table 2). Isolates common to all sources include streptococci and staphylococci (both waterborne and skin commensals), Gram-negative fermenters (especially Enterobacteriaciae), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas ssp, a variety of other non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli, and anerobes (especially Clostridium species) [10,11]. Aeromonas spp are more commonly found in freshwater and Plesiomonas and Edwardsia spp are almost exclusive to freshwater [11].…”

Section: Seawater Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It would be prudent for initial antibiotic treatment for significant wounds to include coverage against beta-lactamase producing organisms, Gram-negative bacilli including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas spp. with added coverage for Vibrio spp for saltwater injuries [9,10,12]. This may be accomplished using a flouroquinolne (ciprofloxacin), or for severe injuries, a combination of an antipseudomonas cephalosporin (cefepime) or beta-lactam (piperacilline-tazobactam) or carbepenem (meropenem) plus an aminoglycoside (gentamicin), with the addition of doxycycline when Vibrio infection is possible.…”

Section: Seawater Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Motorboat Propeller Injuries: Report of Thirteen Cases with Review of Mechanism of Injury and Bacterial Considerations

Price¹,

Muszynski²,

Zielinski³

et al. 2014

J Trauma Treat

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patients were admitted to our hospital for management of propeller related injuries. These injuries ranged in severity from superficial lacerations that did not require closure to severe, devastating injuries with limb loss (Table 1). No patients died of propeller injuries after reaching the hospital during the period of this study. Five of the injuries occurred at very low speed (estimated less than 5 mph) including one patient with two amputations. Five occurred at speeds that were estimated to be greater than 10 mph. Three records did not provide enough information to estimate boat speeds. Eleven injuries occurred in fresh water, one in salt water, and one occurred while on land. Fall from a boat prior to propeller strike occurred in seven patients. Four were in the water from skiing or other activities when struck. The sequence of injury could not be determined for one patient (#9), and one propeller injury occurred while on land. Motorboat Propeller IntroductionOutboard motorboat propeller strikes can cause devastating injury, infection, and death. Approximately 10%-15% of propeller injuries are fatal [1,2]. Motorboat propeller injuries present management problems that may be unfamiliar to trauma surgeons because of the mechanism of injury and bacterial contamination from underwater impact. Severity of injury and complex contamination may not be apparent on initial inspection. It has been noted that these injuries are underreported even though laws are in place requiring all boaters to report boating accidents and injuries to local and national authorities [3]. This paper provides a review of all propeller injuries admitted to Orlando Regional Medical Center during a 6 year period. The mechanical aspects of propeller injuries are presented along with a literature review and recommendations for initial evaluation and management. Methods and MaterialsWith approval from our Institutional Review Board and assistance from the health information management office and coding department at Orlando Health Systems all hospitalized patients with ICD-9 and e-codes pertaining to boating injuries were identified between October 2003 and August 2009. A total of 267 patient encounters were identified in this time period. Further review of those 267 charts identified 13 patients with propeller related injuries. Demographic information, injury and treatment data, complications and outcomes were analyzed. AbstractBackground: Motorboat propeller strikes can cause devastating injury due to injury mechanics and complex contamination. The frequency of these injuries has been under-reported. This paper provides a review of propeller injuries admitted to our hospital over a six-year period. Discussion includes injury mechanics, initial management, literature review, accident statistics, and possible prevention measures.

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“…The etiologies of wound infection in our patients have all been described for water-related sources [10]. S. auerus and candida have been described as water-related or commensals.…”

Section: Seawater Organismsmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Injury Evaluation and Initial Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Seawater Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Seawater Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Motorboat Propeller Injuries: Report of Thirteen Cases with Review of Mechanism of Injury and Bacterial Considerations

Price¹,

Muszynski²,

Zielinski³

et al. 2014

J Trauma Treat

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. They are often characterized by multiple, parallel deep, and mostly clear-cut injuries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helicopter induced propeller injuries

Madea

Schmidt

Doberentz

2015

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

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Case historyFollowing routine maintenance a military helicopter was returned to service. Due to negligence some hoses had not been connected correctly. The wrongly connected hoses resulted in a malfunction, causing the rotor blades of the helicopter to smash through the windows of the helicopter cockpit. Both the pilot and the co-pilot were hit by the rotor blades and decapitated. Other passengers in the helicopter were injured. Due to vibrations the helicopter fell to the ground and its tail partly broke away (Figs. 1, 2).The bodies and body parts of the pilot and co-pilot were found on the ground outside the helicopter cockpit. Autopsy findings Fatality 1The body was that of a 35-year-old man with a body length of 170 cm after decapitation. There was a complete decapitation concentrated at the skull cap (Figs. 3, 4) and the base of the skull was crushed. The brain had been torn out of the cranial cavity. The right arm was completely amputated and there were fractures at the left forearm as well as partial amputation of the left hand. The lungs were altered by blood aspiration. There was only faint postmortem lividity due to exsanguination.The cause of death was decapitation (and amputation of the right arm). Fatality 2The body was that of a 44-year-old man with a body length of 170 cm after decapitation. Autopsy revealed complete decapitation (Fig. 5) as well as a severe laceration of the right shoulder. Both hands were amputated (Fig. 6a, b). Multiple injuries resulted in exsanguination with subsequent faint postmortem lividity. The lungs exhibited blood inhalation. No indications for pre-existing diseases were found. The cause of death was decapitation.During the days following the crash further body parts (for example bone fragments from both skulls, fingers, parts of hands, and brains) originating from the killed pilot and the co-pilot were handed in for postmortem examination.

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Fatal injuries due to direct helicopter propeller strike

Amadasi

Buschmann

et al. 2022

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

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Fatal propeller injuries: Three autopsy case reports

Cited by 16 publications

References 8 publications

Motorboat Propeller Injuries: Report of Thirteen Cases with Review of Mechanism of Injury and Bacterial Considerations

Motorboat Propeller Injuries: Report of Thirteen Cases with Review of Mechanism of Injury and Bacterial Considerations

Helicopter induced propeller injuries

Fatal injuries due to direct helicopter propeller strike

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