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#1
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07-11-2014, 09:48 PM
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Injuries from a High-pressure Power Washer
A 22-year-old previously healthy man was transferred to the authors' hospital 7 hours after sustaining injuries from a high-pressure power washer. The device malfunctioned while in use, and as the patient struck the nozzle on the ground, the spray caused the nozzle to turn toward his open mouth for approximately 3 seconds. He complained of severe neck pain and odynophagia. At a different hospital, he was evaluated and diagnostic imaging was obtained. On arrival at our institution, the vital signs were normal, and physical examination result was notable for a wound in the posterior oropharynx without active bleeding and exquisite tenderness to light palpation of the soft tissues of the neck, without crepitus or deformity (Figure 1) . View of oropharynx. White arrow indicates posterior oropharyngeal lesion. Sagittal reformatted CT image. Diagnosis Oropharyngeal high-pressure injection injury Computed tomography (CT) revealed pharyngeal injury with retropharyngeal emphysema and pneumomediastinum (Figure 2) . The patient received broad-spectrum antibiotics and analgesics and was admitted to surgery, with otolaryngology and thoracic surgery consultations. The 7-day hospital course was uncomplicated, requiring no surgical interventions. The hallmark of high-pressure injection injuries is minimal external damage that is typically associated with significant internal injury. The morbidity from these injuries depends on the type of material and the velocity and location of the injection. A MEDLINE search revealed 3 previous cases of high-pressure water injuries to the oral cavity, 1 requiring intubation. Close attention to airway management, as well as empiric antibiotic coverage to avoid mediastinitis and other deep-space infections, is crucial in managing these cases. |
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#3
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07-13-2014, 04:53 AM
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Re: Injuries from a High-pressure Power Washer
I've got $5 that says that it wasn't a malfunction, he was trying to drink out of the hose.
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#4
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07-13-2014, 05:09 AM
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Re: Injuries from a High-pressure Power Washer
They tell you how it happened.. But didn't explain.. I've used several different pressure washers over the years.. I'm just one of the lucky ones to escape injury, including this injury. |
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#5
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07-13-2014, 06:35 AM
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| ★ Legacy Member ★ Poster Rank:366 Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 3,209 Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Quoted: 288 Post(s)
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Re: Injuries from a High-pressure Power Washer
my cousin was used those 50 times a day since 1984 he does restaurant hood cleaning.. some of his machines are big assed pressure/ steam rigs too. ill ask him if he heard of anything like this. his larger machine would have blown this dudes fucking head right off
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#10
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07-20-2014, 02:22 AM
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Re: Injuries from a High-pressure Power Washer
One time when I was like 10, I had a ruler in my mouth at school at the end of the day when the halls were packed and some kid backed into it/me and it slid back into my throat cut me open, almost in the same spot. It bled but I never told anyone about it because I knew I'd get in trouble for sucking on a ruler The kid felt bad even though it was my fault. |