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Case Reports
. 2021 Jul;50(7):1479-1483.
doi: 10.1007/s00256-020-03707-2. Epub 2021 Jan 27.

Beirut port explosion: unusual presentation of bilateral blast-related extensor mechanism rupture

Manar Zaiter  1 , Abir Ayoub  1 , Assaad Mohana  1 , Ali Guermazi  2 , Mohamed Jarraya  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Beirut port explosion: unusual presentation of bilateral blast-related extensor mechanism rupture

Manar Zaiter et al. Skeletal Radiol. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Industrial disasters related to high-order explosives result in characteristic injuries that are seldom seen among civilians. Survivors of these disasters often present with injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Awareness of explosion and blast injuries for healthcare providers who care for civilians is important considering the possibility of such events as demonstrated in the past two decades, including the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 and the explosion of the port of Tianjin, China, in 2015. We report an unusual presentation of isolated bilateral rupture of the knee extensor mechanism in a 46-year-old healthy male, with history of anabolic androgen steroid (AAS) use. He was standing 1.5 miles from the site of the site of explosion of the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. We discuss the imaging appearance of this injury, the different mechanisms of blast-related injuries, the role of possible underlying pathology, and the management of this patient.

Keywords: Blast injury; Extensor mechanism rupture; High-energy explosion; Patellar tendon rupture; Quadriceps tendon rupture.

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References

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