Injuries, Sequelae, and Treatment of Lightning-Induced Injuries: 10 Years of Experience at a Swiss Trauma Center

Abstract

Principals. Lightning is one of the most powerful and spectacular natural phenomena. Lightning strikes to humans are uncommon but can cause devastating injuries. We analyzed lightning-related admissions to our emergency department from January 2000 to December 2010 to review and highlight the main features of lightning-related injuries. Methods. All data were collected prospectively and entered in the emergency department' database (Qualicare Switzerland) and retrospectively analyzed. Results. Nine patients with lightning-related injuries presented to our emergency department. Four were female, and five were male. The most common site of injury was the nervous system (6 out of 9 patients) followed by the cardiovascular system (5 out of 9 patients). The third most common injuries occurred to the skin (3 out of 9 patients). Four of the patients had to be hospitalized for further observation. Conclusion. Reports of lightning strikes and related injuries are scarce. The establishment of an international register would therefore benefit the understanding of their injury patterns and facilitate specific treatment.

A bolt from the blue: Lightning injuries

“…In general lightning injuries are more common in males with male to female ratio of 5:1. 5 The mechanisms by which the lightning can cause injuries are described in Table 3. Direct strike by lightning constitute <5% and often fatal.…”

“…Of the indirect injuries splashes are more common. 5 Lightning electricity as with all electric energy will travel the path of least resistance. In body tissues the order of least to greatest resistance are nerve < blood < muscle < skin < fat < bone.…”

A rare manifestation of burns after lightning strike in rural Ghana: a case report

“…It is a powerful and spectacular natural phenomenon, and usually occurs when there is a difference in voltage of 30,000 V or higher, which exceeds the inherent resistance [1, 2]. Usually thunder, a sound produced by lightning, follows it after it strikes the Earth’s surface.…”

“…It strikes the Earth’s surface more than eight million times a day [1]. Lightning-related injuries are more common in the young, with a vulnerable age group of 10–29 years [8].…”

Lightning During Golden Spike of the Anthropoceneepoch: The Study of Vulnerability Odisha, India in the Global Context

“…Holle et al, 2008 [8], and 2016 [9] reported that the less developed countries are reducing their numbers of lightning fatalities due to urbanization but the poor, outdoor workers and agricultural workers are the worst sufferers.Pfortmuelleret. al., 201 [10]2 reported the injuries caused by lightning hits are affecting mainly to the nervous system (paresthesia, paralysis, vertigo and unreactive pupils), cardiovascular system (arrhythmias, thoracic pain) and skin burns. Jensen et al, 2017 [11] estimated that the globe is having 50 lightening events/sec, 20% of it hit the ground causing 24000 fatalities annually.…”