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Home-made explosive found inside injured Afghan
  1. Steven Pengelly1,
  2. N Moore2,
  3. D Burgess3,
  4. M Mahlon4,
  5. T Rowlands5 and
  6. T Cubison6
  1. 1Department of Surgery, MDHU Derriford, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK
  2. 2Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
  3. 3Department of EOD and Search Squadron, Royal Logistics Corps, Task Force Helmand, Afghanistan
  4. 4Department of Radiology, Role 3 Medical Treatment Facility, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan
  5. 5Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, RCDM, Birmingham, UK
  6. 6Department of Plastic Surgery, Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, UK
  1. Correspondence to Surg Lt Cdr Steven Pengelly, Department of Surgery, MDHU Derriford, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH, UK; steviep{at}doctors.org.uk

Abstract

There is extensive literature on metal fragments from improvised explosive devices being embedded in patients but there are no reports describing the clinical and radiological appearances of embedded home-made explosive (HME). We present a case of partially detonated HME being found inside a patient's forearm. We discuss the medical management of the injury, the ongoing risk to the patient and surgical team associated with the explosive and the safe disposal of the substance.

  • Trauma Management
  • Wound Management

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