Facial blast injuries in gold panning: Epidemiological and clinical patterns

Abstract

Objective

Facial blast injuries in gold panning are rarely reported in the literature. The aim of this paper is to describe the epidemiological and clinical presentations of facial blast injuries in gold panning in Burkina Faso.

Methods

The medical records of patients suffering from facial blast injuries in gold panning sites between January 2017 and December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Data recording and analysis were performed with Epi Info 7 software.

Results

Facial blast injuries in gold panning represented 3.1 % of all facial trauma. The patients were all male with a mean age of 26.8 years. Soft tissue injuries accounted for 44.2 % of facial injuries. Two-thirds of the wounds were skin screening. Facial fractures accounted for 23 % of injuries. They were a multiple fracture in 4 patients. Monocular and binocular blindness were observed with equal frequency, each in 7 patients. Associated injuries were hand dislocations in 31 patients, thoracic limbs fractures in 5 patients, lower limbs fractures in 6 patients and perforation of the eardrum in 1 patient.

Conclusion

These results call for a strengthening of the laws governing the use of explosives, and a rigorous supervision of artisanal gold panning in Burkina Faso.