0.91 Images of memorable cases: case 102

102. traumatic asphyxia

This 19-year-old airman sustained a calculated 1400 pounds of pressure to his chest when a stationary jet trainer lost its parkedattitude and pinned him to the ground. He was freed within 15 seconds. Observers at the scene noted that his eyes became prominent and that his neck and faceturned bright red and then dark blue. Image 1, day 1, shows the bluish-black discoloration of his face and neck. Image 2, day 6, shows massivesubconjunctival and sublingual hemorrhages, along with marked clearing of the facial discoloration. Image 3, day 9, shows the typically unaffected portions ofthe conjunctivae. The skin of the face is now normal. For more information on this condition, see Case 25.