A shocking injury: A clinical review of lightning injuries highlighting pitfalls and a treatment protocol

Ruler, Rick van; Eikendal, Ties; Kooij, Fabian O.; Tan, Edward

doi:10.1016/j.injury.2022.08.024

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…11 Keraunoparalysis may resemble spinal cord injury or compartment syndrome. 10 After the rehabilitation programmes applied to the patients, there were improvements in the muscle strength of the left shoulder girdle and hand-wrist girdle in Case 1. Case 2 had no active movement in the right lower and upper extremities when admitted to our hospital, but after the rehabilitation programme, muscle strength in the right lower and upper extremities improved.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…After a lightning strike, 85% of patients present with neurological damage. 10 There are many different neurological injuries due to lightning. Neurological complications of lightning strikes can be immediate transient, immediate permanent, delayed or trauma from fall.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Long-term disability is seen in 70-75% of all lightning strike patients. 10 Spinal cord injury and peripheral nerve injury, which are immediate permanent injuries after lightning strikes, are not very common. 10 To the best knowledge of the authors, there is quite insufficient data in the literature regarding peripheral nerve damage and EMG used in the follow-up after lightning strikes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multi-Organ System Involvement and Multidisciplinary Evaluation after Lightning Strike: A Case Series

KILINÇ KAMACI,

ÖRÜCÜ ATAR,

ÖZCAN

et al. 2023

J PMR Sci

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ABS TRACT Lightning strike is one of the causes of injury and death caused by environmental or natural events. Deaths can be seen after lightning strikes, also many different organ systems can be temporarily or permanently affected. Lightning strike can cause damage to many organ systems such as musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, neurological system, dermatological system, visual and hearing. The patients must be evaluated for multi-organ system involvement after lightning strike and the treatment must be structured with a multidisciplinary approach. An appropriate rehabilitation plan should be made according to the clinical conditions of the patients. Here, we present a case series of 4 patients with different organ or system involvement after lightning strikes who were followed up with a multidisciplinary approach and rehabilitation programme.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multi-Organ System Involvement and Multidisciplinary Evaluation after Lightning Strike: A Case Series

KILINÇ KAMACI,

ÖRÜCÜ ATAR,

ÖZCAN

et al. 2023

J PMR Sci

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“…The last mechanism of lightning-induced injury is rarely seen nowadays. Phone electrocution takes place when lightning strikes a telephone line and electrical energy surges through wires to enter the handset of a held, wired phone [ 7 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atypical Dermal Findings in a Patient Following a Lightning Strike Injury

Aldridge,

Guzman,

Machin

et al. 2023

Cureus

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Lightning is a common atmospheric occurrence. However, lightning strikes are not a frequent environmental cause of human injury. Survivors may present with Lichtenberg figures, a fern-like skin manifestation, and burns of varying severity. After a lightning strike, our patient demonstrated atypical cutaneous manifestations of large, ecchymotic discolorations on the medial upper extremities. After a comprehensive evaluation, the patient fully recovered and was discharged home without limitations. This case highlights lightning strike injury, including common findings, epidemiology, mechanisms, and prevention.

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“…The mechanism of injury from lightning strikes is complex, as patients are exposed to extreme voltages that surpass 1,000,000 volts as well as temperatures up to 30,000 Kelvin [3,4]. Lightning injuries can occur through several mechanisms, including a direct strike, side splash, contact, ground strike, upward strike, or blast [4]. Even though a lightning strike lasts only 30 microseconds, it can still contain over 1 billion joules of energy, contributing to its high mortality rate [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Silent Threat of Hypokalemia after High Voltage Electrical Injuries: A Case Study and Review of the Literature

Baker,

Binda,

Nozari

et al. 2024

JCM

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High-voltage electrical injuries, especially from lightning strikes, can cause life-threatening complications due to extreme temperature and voltage exposure. While burns and cardiac complications have been widely described, the documentation of metabolic imbalances, particularly hypokalemia, has not been as prevalent. This report focuses on a patient with profound transient hypokalemia following a lightning strike, alongside a review of three similar cases of transient hypokalemia from the literature. Our patient, a previously healthy young man, was struck by lightning and subsequently suffered transient hypokalemia with lower extremity sensory changes, which resolved after the normalization of serum potassium levels. While the exact underlying mechanisms of transient hypokalemia following high-voltage electrical injuries are unknown, we propose a multifactorial mechanism, which includes massive intracellular shifts of potassium due to elevated epinephrine levels and the prevention of potassium efflux through the electrical disruption of voltage-gated potassium channels. Our report underscores the importance of recognizing hypokalemia in patients with high-voltage electrical injuries and contributes to the understanding of the complex mechanisms involved. Further research is necessary to understand the connection between cellular changes induced by high-voltage exposure and their effects on metabolism, particularly in relation to hypokalemia.

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A shocking injury: A clinical review of lightning injuries highlighting pitfalls and a treatment protocol

Cited by 12 publications

References 57 publications

Multi-Organ System Involvement and Multidisciplinary Evaluation after Lightning Strike: A Case Series

Multi-Organ System Involvement and Multidisciplinary Evaluation after Lightning Strike: A Case Series

Atypical Dermal Findings in a Patient Following a Lightning Strike Injury

The Silent Threat of Hypokalemia after High Voltage Electrical Injuries: A Case Study and Review of the Literature

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