Citation

Huebner CJ, Reed MP. J. Trauma 1998; 45(2): 416-418.

Affiliation

Burns Clinic Medical Center, Petosky, Michigan, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9715210

Abstract

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.