The Specificities of Electrical Burn Healing

Abstract

Electrical burns are a major cause of bodily harm due to the mechanism and effect of the lesions. This prompts us to study these lesions and their management in order to reduce the morbidity caused by this type of accident. In the event of an electric chock accident, the treatment is medico-surgical and is composed of two main phases: acute phase when general treatment is essential and subacute phase when local treatment is implemented. The study shows that conventional emergency decompression does not appear to reduce the amputation rate, the use of local and locoregional flaps in the initial phase (<21 days) carries a significant risk of suffering and necrosis, and also antithrombotic prevention or the use of flaps does not seem to have an impact on healing delays.

Electrical Burn and Amputations in a Burn Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

“…The severity of tissue damage and organ dysfunction in electrical burns depends on the voltage passing through the body which can either be a low voltage (<1000 v) or high voltage (>1000 V) and the conversion of the electrical energy to thermal energy(heat). 13,[17][18][19] Electrical burn injuries can result in the death of the patient in the acute phase due to cardiac arrest, organ failure, or shock, 19 whereas those who survive the initial physiologic disruption may end up with severe complications in the various organ systems as well as major limb amputations. 12,16,17,20 Amputations are one of the devastating yet necessary procedures done in burns to reduce morbidity and increase the survival of patients.…”

“…4,13,15,17,18,20,21,23 Amputations require longer durations of admission and rehabilitation, which may result in deleterious effects on the psychological well-being of the burn patients who end up with a loss of limb or part of it. 15,18,22 The type of amputations done can be either minor or major depending on the level of amputation. Major amputations are proximal amputations passing through the forearm bones, humerus, tibia, or femur, whereas minor amputations are those done distal to the wrist and ankle joints.…”

“…21,22 Although the amputation rates are generally lower in burns with an estimated incidence of around 2%–4%, the majority of the amputations occur as a result of electrical burns, which account for about 20%–40% of the amputations. 4,13,15,17,18,20,21,23 Amputations require longer durations of admission and rehabilitation, which may result in deleterious effects on the psychological well-being of the burn patients who end up with a loss of limb or part of it. 15,18,22 The type of amputations done can be either minor or major depending on the level of amputation.…”