Re-implantation of a degloving amputation of distal index finger caused by fireworks: a case report and literature review / Re-implantación de una amputación por desguantamiento de un dedo índice distal causada por fuegos artificiales: Reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura

Amputations associated with fireworks are customarily treated by stump revision resulting in permanent disability. In this case report, we present an eight-year old boy who suffered an amputation of his right distal index finger at the level of the epiphyseal disk with degloving injury of the amputated finger caused by fireworks. Successful re-implantation was achieved. Two-year follow-up revealed fair cosmesis and acceptable functional and aesthetic recovery though the free distal phalanx had been absorbed completely. Re-implantation of a degloving amputation finger caused by fireworks is possible and can provide good distal soft tissue coverage and recovery ofsensory and motor functions.

Las amputaciones relacionadas con fuegos artificiales son tratadas habitualmente por revisión de muñón, lo que trae como resultado una discapacidad permanente. En este reporte de caso, presentamos a un niño de 8 años que sufrió una amputación de su dedo índice derecho distal a nivel del disco epifisario con lesión por desguantamiento del dedo amputado causada por fuegos artificiales. Se logró una re-implantación exitosa. Los dos años de seguimiento revelaron una corrección quirúrgica cosmética satisfactoria, así como una recuperación funcional y estética aceptable, aunque la falange distal libre había sido absorbida completamente. La re-implantación de un dedo amputado por desguantamiento causado por fuegos artificiales es posible y puede proporcionar buena cobertura de tejido suave distal y recuperación de las funciones sensoriales y motoras.

Fine particles (PM2.5) in ambient air of Lucknow city due to fireworks on Diwali festival.

People burn crackers world over on different occasions in different countries to express their happiness. Fireworks in large amounts aggravate the level of air pollutants and cause significant short-term air quality degradation with possible impact on human health. Fine particles (PM2.5 <2.5 μm), which may pose detrimental effects on human health and ecosystems were monitored in a residential area of Lucknow city to assess the elevated level due to bursting of firecrackers during Diwali festival. The 24 hr mean PM2.5 of normal day, pre Diwali day, Diwali day and post Diwali day was found to be 124, 154, 352 and 174 μg m-3 respectively and much above the US-EPA limit (65 μg m-3). The 12 hr mean concentration of PM2.5 on Diwali night (591 μg m-3) increased 3.9 fold than the respective night of normal day (159 μg m-3) and was significantly higher (p<0.01) than normal day and pre and post Diwali night. Mean comparison showed that Diwali day was significantly (p<0.01) different from others (except post Diwali day) and for this high accumulation during night time, after fireworks (suspension) was found to be more responsible than the period of lighting of crackers (formation). This study indicated that there is high accumulation of PM2.5 generated due to fireworks on Diwali festival which remains suspended in the air for upto 20 hr. During this period, extra mass burden of 289 μg m-3 equivalent to 1.9 normal day (of this study) was imposed in the environment. The short-term high accumulation of PM2.5 is a matter of serious concern for city dwellers as it can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause many respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Quemaduras en pediatría: [revisión] / Burns in pediatrics patients: [review]

Las quemaduras en la población infantil siempre han sido un problema de salud pública importante el cual no ha sido manejado adecuadamente; cada día consultan más niños con quemaduras de distintos tipos, las más frecuentes son las causadas por líquidos y alimentos calientes, otras menos frecuentes son las eléctricas, por ácidos y dependiendo de la época, la pólvora es otro factor que ha causado aumento de las quemaduras en los niños mayores. En este artículo se describen las quemaduras según su profundidad, severidad y extensión, explicando las diferentes reglas para su medición y localización teniendo en cuenta los sitios especiales así como la implicación de los mismos para el pronóstico del paciente. Además por ser una patología traumática es importante revisar su fisiopatología para así comprender mejor su manejo y entender de esa manera el tratamiento, que varía según el período de tiempo transcurrido desde el evento de la quemadura...

Burns in the infantile population have always been a very important problem of public health that has not been managed appropriately; every day arrive more and more children with burns of different types, the most frequent are those caused by hot liquids, foods, oil, and less frequent ones are the electric and by acids. Depending on the time of the year, the fireworks are other factors that have caused an increase of the cases of burns in the children, especially in the older ones. In this article the burns are shown according to their depth, severity, and extension, it also explains the different rules to measure and locate them, keeping in mind the special places and the implication of the same ones for the patient’s predictions. Besides for be a traumatic pathology, is important to review its physiology, due to understand the special treatment, which is detailed according to the period of time lapsed from the event of the burn...

Injuries after new years celebration seen at the National Orthopedic Hospital (January 1990) (With Addendum, January 1991)

By tradition, the Filipinos combine the Western New Year with the Asian custom of exploding fireworks. To estimate the number of injuries associated with fireworks, a descriptive study was done. We reviewed clinical records of outpatient and inpatients of the National Orthopedic Hospital (NOH) who sustained injuries because of fireworks from December 1, 1989 to January 6, 1990. Between December 22, 1989 and January 6, 1990 113 cases of firework injuries were seen at the NOH. One hundred eight (96%) were males. Seventy five (66%) were between 5 and 24 years. Seventy three (65%) of the cases were seen on January 1, 1990 between 12:00 midnight to 2:00 am. One hundred seven (95%) were self inflicted. Thirty four (30%) patients were hospitalized; none died. There were 178 injuries. Fifty four (48%) had multiple injuries. The hand was the body part most commonly affected. Amputation of fingers or wrists accounted 42 (24%) of the injuries; mostly in ages 5-14 years. Fractures accounted 24 (13%) of the injuries; mostly in ages 10-19 years. Avulsions accounted 23 (13%) of the injuries; mostly in ages 15-24 years. We concluded that the use of fireworks can cause debilitating injuries - - the more serious involved the age group 5-24 years. We thereby recommend that health education and preventive measures should be directed to these age group. Existing Philippine law absolutely prohibits the use of fireworks. However, this was hard to implement and illegal manufacturers make larger fireworks than when fireworks were legal. We recommend the selective legalization of small fireworks which may be more a practical way to prevent the severe injuries we documented.