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. 2024 Feb 2;12(2):e5566.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005566. eCollection 2024 Feb.

Electrical Burn and Amputations in a Burn Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Metasebia W Abebe  1 , Emily L Ewing  2 , Hanna A Weldemicheal  1
Affiliations

Electrical Burn and Amputations in a Burn Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Metasebia W Abebe et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Background: Burn injuries are a global public health problem and continue to be one of the leading causes of unintentional death and injury. Electrical injuries, a relatively rare cause of burns, are increasingly being reported with higher rates of mortality in low and middle-income countries due to rapid industrialization in the absence of safety regulations. Electrical burn injuries can result in death, various organ system dysfunctions, or limb amputations.

Methods: A 5-year retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the rate of amputation and associated risk factors in electrical burn injuries among burn patients at AaBET Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Results: The rate of amputation among the 150 patients admitted with electrical burn in the study period was 33.3% (n = 50). A majority (62%; n = 31) of the patients were men (M:F 1.6:1) in the age range of 18-65 years. A fallen electrical wire coming in contact with the patients was the cause of the electrical burns in 50% of the cases. 65.3% of the patients had upper limb amputations, whereas 34.7% had lower limb amputations. Major amputations were more likely to occur when the entry site was the hand, whereas minor amputations were more likely to occur when the entry site was the scalp (P = 0.005).

Conclusions: Younger male patients were identified as the main victims of electrical burns that resulted in amputations. Electrical burns showed substantial morbidity and mortality of patients. Total body surface area and entry site being the hand significantly affected the level and site of amputation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
The levels of amputation of the electrical burn patients who ended up with an amputation.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Age distribution of patients with electrical burn who ended up with amputation.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
An example of high voltage electrical burn with an initial contact point on the right hand that presented with the right hand and forearm clenched and mummified.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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