Abstract
Although airbags have been demonstrated to reduce motor vehicle accident mortality by 19%, and reduce morbidity from facial fractures and chest injuries, they produce their own patterns of injuries. The vast majority of injuries are minor (96.1%) and usually affect the face (42%). However, there are a number of reports of airbag deployment causing more severe injuries and even death. In the present case study the authors describe a case of oesophageal rupture at the gastro-oesophageal junction, apparently as a direct result of airbag deployment in a motor vehicle accident, which has not previously been reported in the literature. (Author/publisher)