AbstractIntroduction: Benefits of electricity to mankind are well known because of its easy availability, less pollution, simplicity and no need to store like conventional storage, which makes it more used form of energy in day to day life. Electrical burn injuries represent a special type of lesion; it is one of the most devastating injuries to be seen in emergency departments, leading to functional disability and aesthetic sequelae. Aim and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to review our experience in treating electrical burns in terms of region of body involved, percentage of burnt area, types of surgical procedures performed, complications and hospital stay in a tertiary care centre. Material and Methods: The present prospective observational study was carried out at a tertiary care centre from August 2013 to November 2015 in patients with history of electric burns reporting to casualty or admitted in department of general surgery, 70 patients were included in the study. The following variables were studied age, sex, occupation, site of incidence, voltage, clinical presentation, region of body involved, percentage of burnt area, types of surgical procedures performed, complications and hospital stay Results: Present study showed the incidence of electric burns as 6.18% amongst total burns. Incidence of electric burns was highest in 21–30 years of age and in 31–40 years of age. In present study the incidence of electrical burns is higher in rural population as compared to urban population with percentage of electrical burns as 71.42% in rural population and 28.58% in urban population. The incidence of male was high and measured 87.14% (n= 61).In our study we have found that out of 70 patients, 94.28% injuries were due to direct contact with the electricity In our study we have found that 32.86 % injuries were related to work and 67.14% injuries were not related to work those were accidental and while playing.(Table 1). In present study the incidence of electrical burns was more at workplaces and then at home thus matches with previous studies. In present study we found that 50 (71.43%) patients out of 70 had upper limb involvement, 44 (62.86%) had lower limb involvement. (Table 2) The majority 48.57% of the patients had upto 10% and 25.71% patients had 11–20% burnt surface area. The incidence of myoglobinuria was 8.57%. Amputation (28.4%) was the most common surgery followed debridement by (24.69%). (Table 3) Conclusion: Electrical injury is very serious type of burn causing considerable health hazard, victims end up with major disabilities, most of the injuries are preventable with proper education and knowledge, efforts for rehabilitation and counseling should be part of treatment protocol.
Keywords: Burns; Electrical; wound; myoglobinuria; Amputation; grafting.