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High voltage hobby; electrical burn following fractal wood burning: A case report
Hollie Moran1, Eugene Koh1, Elizabeth Concannon1
1Burns Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Abstract:
Fractal wood burning is a form of pyrography art, creating Lichtenberg figures (intricate fern-like patterns) in wood using high voltage electricity. The electrical device used is commonly constructed using a high voltage transformer from a home microwave oven. This popular but dangerous art technique has resulted in electrical injuries with exceedingly high mortality rates. Presented is the case of a 37-year-old female artist who sustained an electrical injury from fractal wood burning resulting in full thickness burns to her hands. The burn wounds were reconstructed using a synthetic dermal substitute. This case report highlights the dangers associated with fractal burning, in particular the risk of high voltage electrical burns.
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