Polytrauma from Unintentional Pressure Cooker Explosion: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Pressure cookers are common kitchen appliances with a good safety record and only rare associated explosions. CASE REPORT: Here we present a case of unintentional pressure cooker explosion leading to polytrauma with injuries including pneumothorax, intracranial hemorrhage, open skull fracture, and multiple facial fractures. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Extreme forces and temperatures are involved in pressure cooking. Given the infrequent but real risk of mechanical failure and the increasing use of such devices to create intentional explosions, emergency physicians should be aware of the potentially significant blast injuries that can be associated with them.