Rare and Severe Maxillofacial Injury Due to Tear Gas Capsules: Report of Three Cases |
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| Authors: | Şeref Kerem Çorbacɩoğlu M.D. Sertaç Güler M.D. Erhan Er M.D. Meltem Seviner M.D. Şahin Aslan M.D. Gökhan Aksel M.D. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Ke?i?ren Training and Research Hospital, Ke?i?ren‐Ankara, 06000 Turkey;2. Additional information and reprint requests:;3. ?eref Kerem ?orbac?o?lu, M.D.;4. Kecioren Training and Research Hospital;5. Emergency Medicine Department;6. Ke?i?ren‐Ankara;7. 06000;8. Turkey;9. E‐mail:;10. Department of Emergency Medicine, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Mamak‐Ankara, 06000 Turkey;11. Department of Emergency Medicine, Antakya State Hospital, Hatay‐Antakya, 31000 Turkey;12. Department of Emergency Medicine, ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, ümraniye‐?stanbul, 34760 Turkey |
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| Abstract: | Tear gases are used by police or armed forces for control of riots or social events or by the general population for private self‐defense. These agents are used widely throughout the world, but some harmful effects have reported. In addition, despite well‐defined chemical side effects documented in the literature, data are insufficient regarding mechanical injury due to tear gas capsules. We report three cases of severe maxillofacial injury in patients who had these capsules fired from tear gas guns directly to their faces. The capsules penetrated the patients' faces, causing potentially fatal injuries. To our knowledge, reports of this kind of injury related to tear gas capsules are very rare in the literature. In conclusion, tear gas guns may be very dangerous in terms of human health and they may cause severe injuries, especially when they are not used according to strict guidelines. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science tear gas pepper gas gunshot head trauma riot social event |
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