ABSTRACT
The Conducted Electrical Weapon is a weapon often used by law enforcement agencies as a method of less lethal means to subdue a suspect. Injuries to the eye with these devices are usually due to the projectile force of the metal probes that are released when these devices are engaged. The authors report what may be the first case of an impaled orbital TASER probe that required primary enucleation for globe perforation.
Subject(s)
Conducted Energy Weapon Injuries/surgery , Eye Enucleation/methods , Eye Foreign Bodies/surgery , Eye Injuries, Penetrating/surgery , Conducted Energy Weapon Injuries/diagnosis , Eye Foreign Bodies/diagnosis , Eye Injuries, Penetrating/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Young AdultABSTRACT
The TASER(®) is a self-defense weapon whose use has now become commonplace among law enforcement agencies. Electronic control weapons were first used in the USA in the 1990s and then adopted in Europe and France. We report a case of an 18-year-old male who presented a penetrating lesion of the middle phalanx of the left index finger. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first complex finger injury due to the TASER(®). It highlights the potential major risks to finger vitality and function with use of this electrical weapon.
Subject(s)
Conducted Energy Weapon Injuries/complications , Finger Injuries/etiology , Wounds, Penetrating/etiology , Adolescent , Conducted Energy Weapon Injuries/surgery , Finger Injuries/surgery , Foreign Bodies/diagnostic imaging , Foreign Bodies/etiology , Humans , Male , Radiography , Tendon Injuries/etiology , Tendon Injuries/surgery , Therapeutic Irrigation , Wounds, Penetrating/surgeryABSTRACT
The TASER is a non-lethal conducted electrical weapon intended to incapacitate a person. The growing use of the TASER has resulted in an increased risk of injuries, including those to the face. We report a case of lacrimal canaliculus laceration and ethmoid bone fracture caused by an extra penetration (XP) TASER X26 dart. A 35-year-old was subdued with a TASER head shot; the probe was discharged into the left medial canthus without causing any ocular lesions. A computed tomography scan revealed the probe to be embedded in the left nasolacrimal duct and showed a displaced ethmoid fracture. The barbed dart had sectioned the inferior lacrimal canaliculus without electrifying the lesion. This case expands the knowledge of injuries that may occur as a result of the use of this device and the management of peri-ocular TASER injuries.
Subject(s)
Conducted Energy Weapon Injuries/surgery , Ethmoid Bone/injuries , Lacerations/surgery , Lacrimal Apparatus/injuries , Skull Fractures/surgery , Adult , Humans , Lacerations/etiology , Male , Skull Fractures/etiologyABSTRACT
We report the case of a 27 year old man who was injured by a Taser gun device which penetrated the frontal part of the skull and damaged the underlying frontal lobe. Cerebral penetration was revealed by a brain CT scan. A neurosurgical procedure was required to remove the dart from the skull and brain and the evolution was successful allowing discharge of the patient one week later. There were no additional lesions, particularly electrifying lesion, as only one probe had penetrated the skull. We also observed the length of a Taser dart is sufficient to allow brain penetration. Fortunately, no infection or neurological complication occurred following brain injury. This case study underlines the potential risk induced by the use of Taser stun gun. Although generally regarded as a safe alternative, serious injuries have however been reported and questions regarding the safety of the device still remains unresolved.