Pyro ban on New Year's Eve 2020/2021 – Analysis of firework-related injuries and their treatments

The majority of firework-related injuries in Germany are found at the turn of the year. With regard to hearing, a distinction is made between blast (BT) and explosion trauma (ET).

The study examines the prevalence and characteristics of firework-related injuries over the past 11 years on New Year's Eve and compares these with the effects of the pyro ban 2020/21 imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A retrospective chart review of all patients who presented themselves with the diagnosis blast trauma (H 83.3) or explosion trauma (T 70.8) at the Charité emergency service in the last 11 years from December 28 to January 5 was performed.

267 patients were recorded (78% male). 1/3 each were assigned to the age group 10-19 and 20-29 years. 21% of the patients were admitted to the hospital. There was an isolated BT of the ear in 66%, hand injuries in 12%, head injuries in 8% and eye injuries in 4%. 87% had ear involvement with hearing loss: 83% with tinnitus, 5.6% with ET. The tone audiograms of BT and ET show differences only at 6 kHz, but not at 4 kHz.

8.6% of the patients underwent surgical interventions. The treatment of a tympanic membrane perforation was carried out by: 54% splinting vs. 38% tympanoplasty. Therapy with a glucocorticoid was administered i.v. in 48% and initiated orally in 17%. Overall, there was a decrease in injuries of almost 90% in 2020/21 compared to 2017/18.

The use of fireworks leads to increased utilization of health care resources. The ban on the sale of pyrotechnics as well as the introduction of pyro ban zones in 2020 led to a relevant decrease in injuries. 2020 was the only year in which there were no injuries in children / adolescents. The BT of the ear is the most common firework-related injury.

Publication History

Article published online:
24 May 2022