TY - JOUR PY - 2007// TI - Electrical and lightning injuries JO - Journal of burn care and research A1 - Maghsoudi, Hemmat A1 - Adyani, Yosef A1 - Ahmadian, Nahid SP - 255 EP - 261 VL - 28 IS - 2 N2 - The aim of this study was to explore the mechanisms, complications, morbidity, and mortality associated with electrical injuries. Of 5053 acute burn admissions during a 5-year period, 202 patients (4%) had electrical burn injuries. Their mean age was 27.5 years (range, 3-71 years). Ninety-eight percent were male, and the extent of burn ranged from 1% to 70% TBSA (mean, 10.5 +/- 10.7% TBSA). High-voltage electricity caused 54% of the electrical injuries. Forty-two percent were caused by low-voltage currents and 4% by lightning. A total of 217 surgical procedures were performed on 202 patients Fifteen patients (7.4%) required amputation. All patients who had abnormal electrocardiograms underwent cardiac monitoring. Four had cardiac complications. Mean hospital stay was 13.9 +/- 14.6 days (range, 1-90). Four patients (2%) died. Electrical burn injuries continue to be a serious problem of modern society. Climbing power poles is the most common mechanism for high-voltage injury. Special consideration is required to prevent this type of injury in our region.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1559-047X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/BCR.0B013E318031A11C ID - ref1 ER -