Electronic cigarette burns: A case series. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gibson, Cameron JS; Eshraghi, Niknam; Kemalyan, Nathan A; Mueller, Charles
• Is Part Of: Trauma. Volume 21:Number 2(2019:Apr.)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 106
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Electronic cigarette burns -- lithium ion battery explosions -- e-cigarette burns; Traumatology -- Periodicals; Disaster medicine -- Periodicals; Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.1
• DOI: 10.1177/1460408617738812
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1460-4086

Abstract

Background: There have been many reports of electronic cigarette burns and lithium ion battery explosions leading to property and/or bodily damage, but there is a paucity of data about these injuries in the medical literature. We present a series of patients treated for electronic cigarette burns and lithium ion explosions and review the literature. Methods: Patients treated for electronic cigarette burns between January 2012 and December 2016 were identified. Patients were included if they suffered injuries from either an electronic cigarette device or from batteries used in the devices. Data were collected on the mode of injury, depth, size, and location of the burn, whether or not they had any surgeries and length to recovery. Results: Fourteen patients were treated for electronic cigarette burns between 2012 and 2016. Burn size ranged from <1% to 6% total body surface area. Most patients suffered burns to their thighs because the battery or device exploded in their pocket. The majority suffered partial thickness burns while four patients had full thickness burns. Three patients required excision and autografting, all of which were full thickness burns. The average time to recovery was 24.5 days. Conclusions: Electronic cigarettes pose a new and unique risk to consumers. Lithium ion battery explosions can cause severe injury and significant burns requiring surgery. The incidence of e-cigarette burns are expected to increase as the number of users grow.