Watch Where You Point That: Pneumomediastinum From Pneumatic Nail Gun Injury to the Hand

J Spec Oper Med. 2021 Spring;21(1):106-108. doi: 10.55460/7R9Z-U2IE.

Abstract

Pneumatic nail guns are hand-held tools used in industrial and construction settings. Nail guns cause the most trauma with hospitalization among construction workers. To our knowledge, we report for the first time a case of pneumomediastinum from a nail gun injury to the hand. Our patient was a 40-year-old male construction worker who shot a nail gun into his hand. He became acutely dyspneic and was found to have a pneumomediastinum due to air insufflation. He later underwent tube thoracostomy and intubation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pneumomediastinum from a nail gun injury to the hand.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational
  • Adult
  • Construction Materials
  • Firearms*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Emphysema* / etiology
  • Wounds, Penetrating* / etiology
  • Wounds, Penetrating* / surgery