Long term outcome and follow up of electrical injury

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of electrical burn on a patient's life performance and the disability induced by this type of injury. Methods: This study is a prospective 6 years descriptive study. The injured patients admitted to our center between 2006 and 2008 were followed for 6 years to estimate the ability of their life and job performance after the injury. Results: In the patients, 96.8% were male. The mean age of patients was 27.9 years. 73.9% of those injuries were occupational injuries. 86.5% were pure electrical injuries. 81% of patients went back to their previous job within a 5-6 year period. Only 5% had the ability to perform their usual daily activities-these patients needed financial support from family, insurance companies and government. Unfortunately 6.3% were totally disabled and needed complete help even for their minor natural needs. These patients are young and probably have a long-term life expectancy and would have a huge financial impact on the government and society. The mean length of hospital stay was 17.7 d. The mean total body surface area burned was 13.3%±11.5%. We could see an association between high voltage burns and falling down (P=0.005). High voltage burns needed longer periods away from work (197 d) in comparison with low voltage injuries (145.8 d) (P=0.003). Conclusions: High voltage electrical burns are severe, needing more flap repairs and/or amputations and cause longer periods away from work.

Keywords

• Electrical injury
• Burn
• High voltage
• Low voltage
• Amputation
• Long term follow up