title: Penetrating facial injury from angle grinder use: management and prevention.
abstract: Injuries resulting from the use of angle grinders are numerous. The most common sites injured are the head and face. The high speed disc of angle grinders does not respect anatomical boundaries or structures and thus the injuries produced can be disfiguring, permanently disabling or even fatal. However, aesthetically pleasing results can be achieved with thorough debridement, resection of wound edges and careful layered functional closure after reduction and fixation of facial bone injuries. A series of penetrating facial wounds associated with angle grinder use are presented and the management and prevention of these injuries discussed.
authors.affiliation: Specialist Registrar, Maxillofacial Surgery, Leeds Dental Institute, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9LU, UK. carter.lachlan@virgin.net
authors.forename: Lachlan M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Craig J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wales
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Varley
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Telfer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D004868:Equipment Failure; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*