ORAL BLAST INJURY CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT

Blast trauma within the oropharyngeal cavity may be associated with su perficial or deep injuries. Superficial injury generally needs only ob servation; deeper injury that violates the retropharyngeal space may p roduce dissecting emphysema into the neck and mediastinum followed by prevertebral soft tissue infections and mediastinitis. Injury involvin g the parapharyngeal space might damage vital cervical vessels. Life-t hreatening complications may result unless treatment is adequate. Thre e children who sustained oropharyngeal blast injury are presented. The direct cause was the blast effect of a new, spoiled, orange-flavor be verage just released on the market. The bottle cap of the soft drink a nd its effervescent liquid ''exploded'' into their mouths while they w ere trying to open the bottle with their teeth. Obviously, the failure to observe due precautions, as frequently happens among children, con tributed to the occurrence of the accidents. This paper describes the diagnosis, management, and relevant educational and preventive measure s of the problem.