Abstract
Introduction: Electrical injuries currently remain a worldwide problem. This study determines whether electrical injuries at our institution have changed in the past 30 years, and identifies electrical burn complications and any high-risk groups. Methods: From 1967 to 1997, 185 children admitted to our institute were identified with electrical burns. Fifty-five percent of these electrical burns occurred from 1987 to 1997. Results: During the last 10 years of this study, 43% of the electrical injuries (n = 44) were from low voltage (120-240 V) and 57% (n = 58) from high voltage (> 1,000 V). In 17 children, serious low-voltage burns were identified as oral commissure burns. These were treated conservatively with one to two reconstructive procedures within 2 years. High-voltage injuries were mainly identified in male children (age 11 to 18 years). Thirty-three percent of high-voltage burns required amputation, 29% had deep muscle involvement, and 24% required either escharotomy or fasciotomy. No mortalities were reported. Conclusion: Although the incidence of low-voltage burns is currently on a steady decline, high- voltage injuries remain a problem, particularly in adolescent males.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 933-936 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1999 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
Cite this
Electrical injuries : A 30-year review. / Rai, Jyoti; Jeschke, Marc G.; Barrow, Robert E.; Herndon, David.
In: Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care, Vol. 46, No. 5, 05.1999, p. 933-936.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Electrical injuries
T2 - A 30-year review
AU - Rai, Jyoti
AU - Jeschke, Marc G.
AU - Barrow, Robert E.
AU - Herndon, David
PY - 1999/5
Y1 - 1999/5
N2 - Introduction: Electrical injuries currently remain a worldwide problem. This study determines whether electrical injuries at our institution have changed in the past 30 years, and identifies electrical burn complications and any high-risk groups. Methods: From 1967 to 1997, 185 children admitted to our institute were identified with electrical burns. Fifty-five percent of these electrical burns occurred from 1987 to 1997. Results: During the last 10 years of this study, 43% of the electrical injuries (n = 44) were from low voltage (120-240 V) and 57% (n = 58) from high voltage (> 1,000 V). In 17 children, serious low-voltage burns were identified as oral commissure burns. These were treated conservatively with one to two reconstructive procedures within 2 years. High-voltage injuries were mainly identified in male children (age 11 to 18 years). Thirty-three percent of high-voltage burns required amputation, 29% had deep muscle involvement, and 24% required either escharotomy or fasciotomy. No mortalities were reported. Conclusion: Although the incidence of low-voltage burns is currently on a steady decline, high- voltage injuries remain a problem, particularly in adolescent males.
AB - Introduction: Electrical injuries currently remain a worldwide problem. This study determines whether electrical injuries at our institution have changed in the past 30 years, and identifies electrical burn complications and any high-risk groups. Methods: From 1967 to 1997, 185 children admitted to our institute were identified with electrical burns. Fifty-five percent of these electrical burns occurred from 1987 to 1997. Results: During the last 10 years of this study, 43% of the electrical injuries (n = 44) were from low voltage (120-240 V) and 57% (n = 58) from high voltage (> 1,000 V). In 17 children, serious low-voltage burns were identified as oral commissure burns. These were treated conservatively with one to two reconstructive procedures within 2 years. High-voltage injuries were mainly identified in male children (age 11 to 18 years). Thirty-three percent of high-voltage burns required amputation, 29% had deep muscle involvement, and 24% required either escharotomy or fasciotomy. No mortalities were reported. Conclusion: Although the incidence of low-voltage burns is currently on a steady decline, high- voltage injuries remain a problem, particularly in adolescent males.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0032912704&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00005373-199905000-00026
DO - 10.1097/00005373-199905000-00026
M3 - Article
VL - 46
SP - 933
EP - 936
JO - Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
JF - Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
SN - 2163-0755
IS - 5
ER -