Electrical shock injury

To discuss the case of a patient who received an electrical shock injury to the back of his head and was co-managed by a neurologist and a chiropractor. The common manifestations of electrical shock injuries are presented.

The patient was a 31-yr-old man. His initial symptoms consisted of headaches, dizziness, pain in the suboccipital area, tingling down both arms to the hands, nausea, blurred vision, increased sweating, chest pain, loss of appetite and memory lapses. The patient received a neurological examination, MRI of the brain, EEG, brain stem auditory evoked response and EKG. The neurologist's diagnosis was post-traumatic head syndrome following electrocution.

He was treated by a neurologist and a chiropractor, with fair results. Chiropractic treatments were directed toward correcting the fixations, fibrotic tissue and joint proprioception in his neck using manipulation, physical therapy and active care exercises.

Electrical shocks commonly cause immediate damage to the heart, nervous system and musculoskeletal system. They can also cause delayed complications days to years later, including cholelithiasis, cataracts and nervous system conditions such as ALS. Chiropractors can play an important role in managing the musculoskeletal manifestations of electrical shock injuries.