Electrical burns: Highlights from a 5-year retrospective analysis.

Area of Science:

• Traumatology
• Burn Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Electrical burns are a significant cause of injury, ranking third after scald and flame burns.
• Despite advances, electrical burns present substantial complications and socioeconomic burdens.
• This study analyzed electrical burn cases at a key Turkish burn center.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively analyze patient data for electrical burn injuries.
• To identify demographic, injury, and treatment characteristics.
• To evaluate the impact of burn severity on hospitalization and costs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 94 patients hospitalized for electrical burns (2008-2012).
• Data collected included age, gender, occupation, burn TBSA, voltage, coexisting trauma, infection rates, and costs.
• Comparison between low-voltage and high-voltage burn outcomes.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients were young adult males (89.4%) injured in industrial settings.
• High-voltage burns (50%) resulted in larger TBSA affected (21.8%) and longer hospital stays (21.3 days) compared to low-voltage burns.
• Infection rates were 32.9%, with high-voltage burns incurring 2.5x longer hospitalizations and 4x higher costs.

Conclusions:

• Young males are most vulnerable to severe high-voltage electrical burns, often from industrial accidents.
• Enhanced safety training, proper electrical device usage, and robust occupational safety regulations are vital.
• Preventive measures can significantly reduce the incidence and impact of electrical burn injuries.