Abnormalities Produced in the Central Nervous System by Electrical Injuries

Abstract

The alternating and continuous circuits produced different types of lesions in the central nervous system. Hemorrhages were common after alternating current shocks and few hemorrhages were observed in the continuous circuit group. With both types of circuits at 1000 and 500 volts potential, severe abnormalities in the nerve cells were observed. These were more marked in the continuous circuit group. A uniformly staining, shrunken, pyknotic nucleus was taken as a criterion of nerve cell death. The Purkinje cells of the cerebellum were most susceptible to the current. Injured cells were studied in the dorsal nucleus of the vagus, in the somatic motor group, among the primary sensory neurones and in the olives. Changes in the histological structure of the cells in reference to recovery have been discussed. Injury to the cerebral and cerebellar cortices occurred on the dorsal surface close to the head electrode. Small cavities were produced, particularly in the cerebral cortex, as the result of the circuit contact. With the continuous and alternating circuits at 110 and 220 volts potential less severe changes were observed in the nerve cells although hemorrhages were common in the alternating circuit group. It must be assumed in these cases that death was due to respiratory block rather than actual death of the cells.

Electrical injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review of the literature

“…2 18 19 Electrical injury may cause a wide range of morphological changes in the central nervous system. [20][21][22][23][24][25] Cellular changes include neuronal chromatolysis, neuronophagia and neuronal loss. Microglial activation, which is an early event in central nervous system damage, 26 is prominent, as is infiltration of blood-borne macrophages and neutrophils.…”

Risk of neurological diseases among survivors of electric shocks: A nationwide cohort study, Denmark, 1968–2008

“…Several studies have described neurological complications of electrical injuries involving either cerebral complaints (loss of consciousness, seizures, headaches) or peripheral complaints (sensory loss, paralysis, neuropathic pain) and permanent neurological damage was the most feared complication [Chritchley, 1934; Silversides, 1964; Butler and Gant, 1977; Hunt et al, 1980; Grube et al, 1990; Arnoldo et al, 2004]. Furthermore, there have been observations of changes in the peripheral nerves such as a breaking down of the outermost layer of the nerve fibers in the peripheral nervous system as a result of electric injuries [Chritchley, 1934] and accelerated demyelination and neuronal death in brain tissue of experimental animals exposed to electric shocks [Langworthy, 1930; Morrison et al, 1930]. All these have raised the question of whether electric shocks cause neurological diseases, and studies have linked electric injuries to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) [Haynal and Regli, 1964; Deapen and Henderson, 1986], epilepsy and Parkinson's disease [Silversides, 1964], peripheral nerve diseases [Grube et al, 1990], and vertigo [Hooshmand et al, 1989].…”

High Voltage Electrical Injury Leading to a Delayed Onset Tetraplegia, with Recovery

“…Langworthy has shown that injury can cause complete necrosis of the cord, which is compatible with a transverse lesion. 13 The direct action of electric fields can cause tissue damage in two ways-by (a) production of heat (joule) and (b) damage to the cell membrane independent of the heating effect. This leads to cell membrane ruptures, a phenomenon known as electroporation.…”