Life-Threatening Nail Gun Injuries

Beaver, A. C.; Cheatham, Michael L.

doi:10.1177/000313489906501203

Cited by 58 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…2 Nail guns are often compared with conventional firearms as most of them can fire a nail at a velocity ranging from 46 to 150 m/s, whereas conventional handguns and rifles generate velocities from 91 to 671 m/s. 4,5 A pneumatic nail gun can reach a velocity of up to 46 m/s, whereas a PAT can fire a nail at a velocity of 427 m/s. 8 A PAT can be compared with a modified firearm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…High-velocity nail guns, which are also called powder-actuated tools (PATs), use explosive cartridges to drive single nails into wood, concrete, or metal surfaces and are less commonly used than their pneumatic counterparts in residential construction 2 . Nail guns are often compared with conventional firearms as most of them can fire a nail at a velocity ranging from 46 to 150 m/s, whereas conventional handguns and rifles generate velocities from 91 to 671 m/s 4,5 . A pneumatic nail gun can reach a velocity of up to 46 m/s, whereas a PAT can fire a nail at a velocity of 427 m/s 8 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2,3 Because of their mechanism of action and ballistic capability, nail guns are often compared with firearms. [4][5][6][7][8] Widespread industrial use of nail guns has made them a culprit for accidental injuries and, rarely, suicidal attempts, despite having safety mechanisms engineered to prevent injuries. 1,[9][10][11] We present a case of suicide using a powder-actuated nail gun with several postmortem features seen in firearm injuries, as well as some unique features.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…They can be categorized as pneumatic or powder actuated and are used by both professional workers and nonprofessional consumers, for general construction purposes 2,3 . Because of their mechanism of action and ballistic capability, nail guns are often compared with firearms 4–8 . Widespread industrial use of nail guns has made them a culprit for accidental injuries and, rarely, suicidal attempts, despite having safety mechanisms engineered to prevent injuries 1,9–11 .…”

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Nail Gun Suicide

Fernando

Ekanayake

2020

Am J Forensic Med Pathol

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Nail guns are pneumatically driven or powder-actuated tools, which are used to drive nails into wood or concrete. A 42-year-old man, who was a builder by profession and history of antidepressant use, was found dead in his vehicle, holding a "Ramset" nail gun in his right hand. A straight metal nail and a book with a small hole were recovered from the scene.At autopsy, an irregularly circular puncture wound was seen on the forehead and a cruciate laceration was seen on the posterior aspect of the scalp. No burning, blackening, or tattooing was present around either injury. Both internal and external beveling was present with the latter being relatively larger. Toxicological analysis revealed alcohol and methamphetamine in blood. Psychiatric history and substance abuse must also be considered when individuals in construction industry are given access to tools like nail guns.Several unique features not previously reported were observed in this case. The deceased had overcome the built-in safety mechanism of the nail gun, by placing a book in between his forehead and muzzle. Another unique feature is that the nail had exited the cranium. Beveling, a feature commonly found in firearm injuries, was also seen in this case.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Nail Gun Suicide

Fernando

Ekanayake

2020

Am J Forensic Med Pathol

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“…There are few case reports available on pneumatic nail gun injuries to the thorax and head. Pneumatic nail guns can easily propel nails through sheets of wood, making travel through human bone and tissues very possible [ 1 – 3 ]. These circumstances necessitate a high index of suspicion for significant penetration and injury to patients presenting with nail gun injuries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delayed Presentation of Nail Gun-Associated Traumatic Pneumothorax with a Retained Foreign Body: A Case Report

2022

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Patient: Male, 30-year-old Final Diagnosis: Traumatic pneumothroax Symptoms: Chest pain Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Video assisted thoracoscopy Specialty: Cardiac Surgery Objective: Rare disease Background: Pneumatic nail guns were first introduced in the 1950’s, which revolutionized the construction industry. Since that time, nail gun injuries have been reported predominantly in the extremities with rare cases of thoracic and head injuries. A nail gun can easily propel nails through human tissue with velocities varying based on propellant and object. There are limited case reports on the appropriate management of thoracic nail gun injuries. Case Report: A 30-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department with right-sided chest pain seven and a half hours after getting struck in the right lateral thorax with a pneumatic nail gun. The patient was hemodynamically stable and without respiratory distress. A chest X-ray was taken and showed a right pneumothorax with a retained radio-opaque object at the right lung hilum. A CT angiogram subsequently showed the object abutting the right middle lobe branch of the pulmonary artery. Cardiothoracic surgery was called and the patient was taken urgently to the operating room for right thoracotomy, finding the nail deep in the right fissure at the hilum with the nail head in contact but not puncturing the right middle lobe branch of the pulmonary artery. The patient was extubated and recovered well postoperatively. Conclusions: This case demonstrates the critical nature of nail gun injuries and can better inform the trauma protocols used to treat these injuries. Even in a delayed presentation, there should be a high suspicion of traumatic lung and cardiac injuries due to the velocities obtained with pneumatic nail guns.

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