Epidemiology of electrical burns: a 10-year retrospective analysis of 376 cases at a burn centre in South China

Abstract

Objective To investigate the epidemiological profile and associated outcomes of electrical injuries at a major burn centre in southern China. Methods This retrospective study enrolled consecutive electrical burn patients admitted to the burn centre of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between 2008 and 2017. Demographic and clinical data and outcomes were recorded. Mann–Whitney U tests/Pearson’s chi-squared tests were used to examine the differences between low-voltage and high-voltage injuries. Results There were 217 high-voltage injuries and 159 low-voltage injuries. High-voltage burns were frequently observed between March and August, and low-voltage burns peaked between June and September. Burn patients were mainly men. Most burns occurred in participants aged 21 to 50 years and in industrial workers and electricians at work or householders at home. Only one person with high-voltage burns died (a mortality rate of 0.46%). Amputation rates were 37.33% for high-voltage burns and 22.01% for low-voltage burns. High-voltage injuries were associated with more extensive burns, longer hospital stays, and more complications and amputations. Conclusions More attention should be paid to prevention of electrical burns in male adults. Particular focus is needed on industrial workers, incidents in the spring and summer, and high-voltage injuries.

Epidemiological analysis of patients with burns in third‐line hospitals in Turkey

“…As in our study, it was stated that electrical burns are relatively less common though cause more severe burns 23 . Adult electric burns usually result from accidents in the workplace and to a lesser extent at home 3,24 . In our study, electrical burns mostly occurred in the workplace, but pediatrical electrical burns were also detected within the home setting as a result of contact with the household electrical outlets.…”

“…23 Adult electric burns usually result from accidents in the workplace and to a lesser extent at home. 3,24 In our study, electrical burns mostly occurred in the workplace, but pediatrical electrical burns were also detected within the home setting as a result of contact with the household electrical outlets. Explosions and chemical burns have been reported to occur mostly in the workplace and experienced by men in the head and neck area.…”

Neurological and neurourological complications of electrical injuries

“…Electrical trauma mainly affects young males, being most common in the workplace among industrial workers in particular (e.g. those repairing power lines, workers striking power lines with machinery) and is the fourth most important cause of traumatic occupational death [1,2]. However, it also occurs frequently in and around the home (e.g.…”

“…when installing television antennas, dropping an electrical appliance into water, using an unsafe swimming pool) [1,3]. High-voltage (≥ 1,000 V) accidents occur more frequently (57.71%) than low-voltage burns (< 1,000 V) (42.29%) [2]. The fatality rate, a reflection of the severity of electrical incidents and of the accessibility of specialised burns centres, ranges from 2.35% to 26.7% [2].…”

“…Amputations (with rates of 10-68% in electrically injured survivors) [2,6] neurological impairments (21%) [5], and neuropsychological and behavioural impairments (59.2% in the same survivors) [5] are considered the main complications that affect the ability to return to work [2].…”