The Management of Electrical Burn

Abstract

Aim of treatment is to achieve skin cover to prevent infection and to allow early mobilization. Electrical injuries are a relatively uncommon. Adult electrical injuries usually occur as an occupational hazard, whereas children are primarily injured accidently. The spectrum of electrical injury is very broad, ranging from minimal injury to severe multiorgan involvement, with both occult and delayed complications and death. This is a prospective study from Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur. A total of 98 patients presenting from June 2002 to September 2011 were included. Patients were treated with surgical excision 31 (31.63 %), fasciotomy 26 (26.53 %), escharotomy 87 (88.78 %), and amputation 12 (12.24 %). In all patients debridement was performed. After follow-up, there was 8.16 % (8 patients) mortality. Minimal mortality may be due to less surface area involved or no visceral injury. Patients survived with morbidity due to amputation. Initial management of electrical burn is imperative to optimize function and minimize long-term scarring. However, further studies are required regarding flap repair and microsurgery to minimize the rate of amputation.

Reconstrucción de extremidades en un paciente con secuelas de quemadura eléctrica de alto voltaje

“…En los últimos 30 años se ha visto favorecida por el desarrollo de protocolos de atención temprana y la realización de escisión e injerto precoz, seguida de colgajos y revascularizaciones tempranas para el salvamento de extremidades; con esto se ha reducido la morbilidad, mortalidad y días de estancia hospitalaria. 6,7 El índice de falla de colgajos libres para la reconstrucción en estos pacientes, que ha sido reportado en la literatura, es de 20% 1,7 y depen-de directamente del tiempo de reconstrucción, sea inmediata, temprana, intermedia o tardía, lo que mejora la supervivencia cuando se realiza de forma inmediata en los primeros cinco días, o tardía, después de las seis semanas.…”

Augmented reality game-related injury

“…Estimating the cost to individual and society of associated injuries is challenging, as each accident will be unique. Death from electrical burns is estimated at 3%–5% 13. High-voltage injuries can lead to widespread necrosis under apparently healthy skin.…”

Treatment Strategy for an Electrical Burn Patient with Multiple Fourth-Degree Wounds

“…Electrical burns extending to the bone complicate reconstruction. Treatment of electrical burns mainly employs complex flaps such as free flaps, as skin grafts do not take readily because the soft tissue is insufficient [3][4][5]. Multistage reconstruction is often required.…”