Clinical Report: Head Trauma After Pressure Cooker Blast

Overview

A case of a 56-year-old woman who sustained a significant occipitoparietal extradural hematoma due to a pressure cooker explosion highlights the potential for severe head injuries from low-order blasts, primarily caused by secondary projectiles. Emergency craniotomy was performed, resulting in a favorable recovery.

Background

Pressure cooker explosions, classified as low-order blasts, can lead to serious injuries primarily through secondary projectiles. While these incidents typically result in burns or soft-tissue injuries, the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage is rare but critical, necessitating awareness and understanding of the mechanisms involved for timely management.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial data available in the article.

Key Findings

• A 56-year-old woman developed a 6.5 × 2.7-cm occipitoparietal extradural hematoma after being struck by a pressure cooker lid.
• The patient exhibited a 5.8-mm midline shift and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14 upon presentation.
• Emergency craniotomy was performed due to symptomatic mass effect and midline shift.
• Postoperative imaging showed complete resolution of the hematoma, and the patient was discharged neurologically intact.
• Pressure cooker explosions are associated with secondary projectile injuries rather than primary overpressure effects.
• Approximately one-quarter of surgically treated extradural hematomas are attributed to domestic injuries.

Clinical Implications

This case underscores the importance of early imaging and intervention in patients presenting with head trauma from low-order explosions. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for intracranial injuries in similar scenarios, even when initial symptoms appear mild, and monitor for delayed symptoms.

Conclusion

Low-order domestic blast injuries can lead to significant intracranial damage, necessitating prompt evaluation and surgical intervention. Awareness of these risks is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Related Resources & Content

1. BJS (British Journal of Surgery), 2023 -- Surgical Management of Penetrating Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Study with Video Documentation
2. Contemporary Understanding of Penetrating and Blast Injuries Affecting the Central Nervous System, 2014
3. Critical Care (Springer), 2025 -- Optimal cerebrovascular reactivity thresholds for the determination of individualized intracranial pressure thresholds in traumatic brain injury: a CAHR-TBI cohort study
4. Blast Injuries - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf, 2023
5. Guidelines for the Surgical Management of TBI -- Brain Trauma Foundation, 2023
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8. Guidelines for the Surgical Management of TBI — Brain Trauma Foundation
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