Summary
So far a few case reports about laptops causing burns have been published. Now for
the first time, we report on a case, in which notebook-induced thermal injuries placed
in a patient’s lap resulted in severe second- and third-degree burns. As a consequence,
a partial amputation of the left foot had to be performed. Furthermore, we measured
maximum temperatures of 12 popular laptops, which were running full load for 3 h.
For this experiment air circulation underneath the device was blocked in order to
simulate surrounding conditions, which were present when the patient got injured.
Although this setting may be the reason for most of all notebook burns, this kind
of test has not been part of any scientific publication until now. Patients with lower
extremity sensation, altered consciousness or decreased peripheral sensitivity have
a higher risk for thermal injuries.
Keywords
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References
- Thigh burn associated with laptop computer use.J Burn Care Res: Off Pub Am Burn Assoc. 2008; 29: 842-844
- Full thickness thigh burn caused by a laptop computer: It’s hotter than you think.Burns: J Int Soc Burn Injur. 2011; 37: e9-e11
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- Experimental studies of moderate temperature burns.Burns: J Inte Soc Burn Injur. 1991; 17: 443-451
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Bellmer P. Test: Apple MacBook Pro 15″ & 17″. http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/notebooks-und-tablets/2011/test-apple-macbook-pro-15-und-17-2011/6/; 2011 [accessed 18.01.12].
Brownlee J. Apple files four new patents for future Mac cooling technologies. http://www.cultofmac.com/32542/apple-files-four-new-patents-for-future-mac-cooling-technologies/ [accessed 18.01.12].
Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 25, 2012
Accepted:
December 23,
2011
Received:
December 14,
2011
Footnotes
☆The case report was so far not presented at any meeting.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Published by Elsevier Inc.
