New England Journal of Medicine

Teen's Jaw Shatters After The Battery In His Vape Pen Suddenly Explodes

Updated August 16, 2021

When vaping devices started getting attention, they seemed like a scientific marvel.

Not only did they appear to be an arguably safer alternative to cigarettes, but they also ensured that people around a smoker wouldn't have to worry about second-hand smoke because the device just emits water vapor.

However, it turns out that the perception of these devices as "safe" was a little too good to be true. The case of one Nevada teen highlights a serious flaw in how vape pens and other products are made and it seems his is not a freak occurrence.

Last year, 17-year-old Austin Adams of Ely, Nevada had made an important decision.

Reddit | Austin Burton

As NBC News reported, he had decided to quit smoking and figured that transitioning from cigarettes to e-cigarettes would help make that process smoother.

After looking into the matter, he decided on a vape pen made by a company called VGOD.

Reddit | [deleted]

His age prevented him from buying the device himself, so he explained his intentions to his mom, Kailani Burton, who bought it for him.

As far as Adams could recall, he was using the device properly before something unexpected happened.

The vape pen had exploded, which knocked several of his teeth out and shattered his jaw.

Burton told NBC News that he then came up to her with his hand up to his mouth and wasn't able to speak as he was in shock.

Burton then headed for the nearest hospital that was equipped to handle this injury, which was Primary Children's Hospital.

Reddit | basstastic091

Unfortunately, this hospital was in Salt Lake City, which was a five-hour drive away from Ely.

When Adams arrived, trauma surgeons were able to get a more detailed sense of the damage done to his mouth.

New England Journal of Medicine

As Dr. Katie Russell would later describe in the New England Journal of Medicine, "This child had a blast injury to his lower jaw, as well as burns around his lip."

Dr. Jonathan Skirko, another surgeon who treated him, also said that the blast tore a hole through the patient's gums and "vaporized" some tissue.

In the year since this happened, the Food and Drug Administration has become aware of why these explosions happen.

Reddit | K7715

When the lithium-ion battery inside these devices overheat, they become prone to starting fires or exploding entirely.

As a result, they now recommend that manufacturers provide more detailed information about the batteries they use and suggest reworking them to make these explosion less likely.

They also recommend that consumers check for safety features like firing button locks and ventilation holes in their devices. They also said not to charge them overnight and keep the batteries away from metal devices like coins and keys.

Adams' case is just one in a surprisingly common trend of vaping-related explosions.

Reddit | nightshard

Last year, a BMJ study revealed that 2,035 people visited American emergency rooms for either e-cigarette burns or outright explosions between 2015 and 2017. This translates to almost two per day.

Furthermore, these explosions have been responsible for two deaths so far.

One case saw a Texas man who died when an explosion caused a piece of his device to sever an artery in his neck, while another saw a Florida man perish in a house fire that started from an e-cigarette explosion.

As for Adams, he has since made a full recovery, but it took some serious work to get there.

New England Journal Of Medicine

According to NBC News, surgeons had to sew his gums back together, stabilize his jaw by inserting plates, and give him temporary crowns to ensure the teeth he had left stayed in line. He also had his jaw wired shut for six weeks.

He has also reportedly stopped smoking entirely since the incident occurred.

h/t: NBC News

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