Grill Brush Bristle Injuries Continue to Rise

Most patients were treated and released, with the oropharynx the most common injury site

By
Kathryn Wighton
April 10, 2026
3 min

MDSpire News

Objective:

To analyze the increase in grill brush wire bristle injuries in the US from 2015 to 2023 compared to the previous decade (2006 to 2014).

Approach:

Key Findings:

Estimated 3,739 grill brush wire bristle injuries from 2015 to 2023, a 229% increase from 2006 to 2014.
71% of patients were treated and released; 24% required hospital admission.
Injuries were most common in individuals aged 19 to 40 years (38%) and 41 to 60 years (34%).
Pediatric patients younger than 18 years represented 14% of cases.
Injuries occurred year-round but were most common in summer and least frequent in winter.
Oropharynx was the most common injury site, accounting for 40% of cases.

Interpretation:

Despite increased awareness of the dangers of grill brush bristles, the incidence of injuries has not decreased over the past decade.

Limitations:

Small sample size and incomplete data.
Limited specificity in injury location reporting.
Low frequency of injuries reduces precision of national estimates and limits characterization of demographic patterns.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that despite increased awareness campaigns, the incidence of grill brush bristle injuries in the US has not effectively decreased over the past decade.