Management of an Unexploded Intracorporeal Firework in a Low Resource Setting: Case Report and Tips

Abstract

Surgical removal of unexploded ordnance has been described in literature, usually in the context of the military. We describe a case of a 31-year-old gentleman who presented with a traumatic fireworks injury resulting in an unexploded three-inch aerial shell lodged in his left upper thigh. The sole regional Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) expert was not available, so a local pyrotechnic engineer was contacted and he helped in identification of the firework. The firework was removed without the use of electrocautery, irrigation, or metal instrument contact after skin incision. The patient recovered well after prolonged wound healing. Creativity needs to be employed in low resource settings to identify all available resources that can impart knowledge when medical training is not enough. People with knowledge of explosives can be, as in our case, local pyrotechnics engineer or can be local cannon enthusiasts, veterans, or active military personnel at a nearby military base.