title: Facial trauma caused by electronic cigarette explosion.
abstract: Electronic cigarettes are increasingly popular as a supposed safer alternative to tobacco cigarettes or a smoking cessation tool. Research and debate have focused primarily on possible adverse effects caused by the inhaled aerosol produced by electronic cigarettes and on smoking cessation efficacy. Few reports in the medical literature describe injuries secondary to device malfunction. We present a case of electronic cigarette explosion, with a projectile fracturing the patient's right naso-orbital-ethmoid complex and anterior and posterior frontal sinus tables, with frontal sinus outflow tract involvement. The patient underwent combined open and endoscopic repair, including open reduction internal fixation, with reconstitution and preservation of the frontal sinus and frontal sinus outflow tract. Additionally, we review the available data on electronic cigarette malfunction-including fires, explosions, associated injuries, and possible reasons for device malfunction-and discuss new 2016 U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations pertaining to electronic cigarettes.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, 620 John Paul Jones Circle, Portsmouth, VA, 23708 USA. brian.vaught2.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vaught
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spellman
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mullin
mesh_terms: D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000293:injuries; D005107:Explosions; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult