High voltage electrical injuries

Saadat Ali Janjua

Author(s)

Saadat Ali Janjua Army Burn Centre, Combined Military Hospital, Kharian, Cantt, Pakistan

Abstract

To highlight the devastating nature and consequences of high voltage electrical injuries and to stress the need for its prevention. Design: It was a retrospective study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Army Burn Centre, Combined Military Hospital, Kharian Cantonment, between January 1,1998 to December 31, 2000. Subjects and Methods: All the patients reporting to Army Burn Centre with high voltage electrical injuries were included in the study. The epidemiology of these injuries were studied along with the pattern of their management and outcome in terms of mortality and morbidity. Results: Of all the patients admitted to the Army Burn Centre, 5.94% were afflicted with electrical injuries. They were predominantly males in a ratio of 9.75 :1 and mostly in the 3rd and 4th decades of their lives. Seventy percent of these injuries were work-related and 75% had associated surface burns. There was significant mortality rate of 18.6% and a limb amputation rate of 80% along with professional disability rate of 91 % rendering it a highly morbid condition. Conclusion: This study stresses the necessity to educate the general public with regard to the devastating nature of high voltage electrical injury and highlight the importance of prevention..

Publication Details

Page(s) 140-142

DOI DOI not available

Published Journal: Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP, Volume: 12, Issue: 3, Year: 2002

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Keywords

Electric injuries, Epidemiology, Prevention and Control

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