[Experimental electric injuries: repair and histology]

66 rats were submitted to bilateral hindlimb high-voltage electric injuries. When palliative debridement, followed by flap transplantation, was done within 48 hours after the injury, both the external appearance and functions were restored satisfactorily. On the contrary, when radical debridement or skin grafting with split thickness skin was done, all the limbs lost their functions. The results suggest that early palliative debridement and good coverage with skin flap are feasible in the treatment of electric burns.