[Deaths from electrical current injuries in Bursa city of Turkey]

Electrical energy has gained wide acceptance since the middle of 20th century. Rapid progress of industrialization and widespread utilization of electrical appliances lead to many electrical accidents and deaths. Aim of our study was to analyze such injuries with a forensic perspective and to draw conclusions.

Sixty-three death cases (59 males, 4 females; mean age 32.5+/-12.7; range 5 to 62 years) due to electrical current injury that underwent forensic autopsy between the years of 1996-2003 in Bursa city of Turkey were included into the study. Demographic features, origin of death, scene of the injury, localization of entry and exit lesions were examined.

The cases were most common in between 30-39 years of age and 93.7% were male. Sixty-three point five percent of the deaths were occupational accidents. Deaths occurred usually in summer. Although homicidal and suicidal cases were rare in the literature, all of our cases were accidental in origin.

The physician who performs autopsy should be thoroughly informed about the place of death due to electrocution. It is necessary to solve infra-structural problems, increase security measures and provide training about prevention of electrical injuries.