Fatal laryngeal injury in an achondroplastic dwarf secondary to airbag deployment.
We report the case of an unrestrained driver with achondroplastic dwarfism who suffered a fatal anterior neck injury when her airbag deployed as she rear-ended another vehicle at 30-40 mph. Her short stature and short limbs required her to sit within a handbreadth of the steering wheel, which probably allowed the airbag or airbag cover to strike her neck as it opened. This is the first reported case of fatal injury to a driver with achondroplastic dwarfism.
Roberts
D
D
Department of Emergency Medicine, North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale, Minnesota, USA.
Pexa
C
C
Clarkowski
B
B
Morey
M
M
Murphy
M
M
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000130:Achondroplasia / Q000150:complications*; D000293:Adolescent; D017278:Air Bags / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000293:injuries*; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000209:etiology