Electrical injuries: A 30-year review

Introduction: Electrical injuries currently remain a worldwide problem. Thi s study determines whether electrical injuries at our institution have chan ged in the past 30 years, and identifies electrical burn complications and any high-risk groups. Methods: From 1967 to 1997, 185 children admitted to our institute were ide ntified with electrical burns, Fifty-five percent of these electrical burns occurred from 1987 to 1997, Results: During the last 10 years of this study, 43% of the electrical inju ries (n = 44) were from low voltage (120-240 V) and 57% (n = 58) from high voltage (>1,000 V), In 17 children, serious low-voltage burns were identifi ed as oral commissure burns. These were treated conservatively with one to two reconstructive procedures within 2 years. High-voltage injuries were ma inly identified in male children (age 11 to 18 years). Thirty-three percent of high-voltage burns required amputation, 29% had deep muscle involvement , and 24% required either escharotomy or fasciotomy, No mortalities were re ported. Conclusion: Although the incidence of low-voltage burns is currently on a s teady decline, high-voltage injuries remain a problem, particularly in adol escent males.