This report is a review of the literature and the clinical experience
of electrical bums of the mouth in the West Midlands Regional Bums Uni
t at the Birmingham Accident Hospital, UK, over the past 10 years. The
re were Foe patients, four were children, 9 months to 5 years of age,
and one adult. All patients had electrical conduction injuries involvi
ng the lips and perioral structures with involvement of the oral commi
ssure. Electrical are and flash bums were not included in this study.
One child had a severe electrical injury and posed a difficult managem
ent problem. Although a variety of reconstructive procedures are avail
able, the dilemma between conservative treatment and immediate reconst
ruction persists. Early intraoral splinting hers been suggested in the
literature. If was not used in any of the patients in this series and
, though it may be beneficial, the patient compliance of a paediatric
population may be questionable. The incidence of electrical bums has b
een on the decline, but those affecting the mouth still continue to be
a major problem in management.