Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jan 27;51(1):85.
doi: 10.1007/s00068-025-02766-1.

Outcomes of electrical injuries in the emergency department: epidemiology, severity predictors, and chronic sequelae

Rym Karray  1 , Olfa Chakroun-Walha  2 , Folla Mechri  1 , Imen Salem  1 , Hanen Drira  1 , Abdennour Nasri  1 , Ayman Damak  3 , Noureddine Rekik  1
Affiliations

Outcomes of electrical injuries in the emergency department: epidemiology, severity predictors, and chronic sequelae

Rym Karray et al. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. .

Abstract

Introduction: Electrical injuries (EIs) represent a significant clinical challenge due to their complex pathophysiology and variable presentation, ranging from minor burns to severe internal organ damage. Despite their prevalence in both; domestic and occupational settings, there remains a rareness of systematic guidelines and comprehensive literature to aid clinicians in effectively managing these injuries. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing protocols that can mitigate the risk of delayed complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias, in patients who initially appear stable.

Objectives: This study aims to elucidate the epidemiology, clinical outcomes, and predictors of severe presentation in EIs, providing insights to improve patient assessment and management strategies.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over 4 years. Data were collected from standardized medical records. The group of patients with severe complications included those who presented a life-threatening cardiac, respiratory, neurological, or biological impairment or died within the first 48 h of the EI.

Results: We enrolled 118 cases of electrical injury (EI). Ages ranged from 4 to 82 years, with 31.3% under 15. EI incidence peaked in summer, with 63.5% being home accidents. High-voltage injuries occurred in 13.6%. The most common ED complaints were burns in children (59.5%) and trauma in adults (48.1%). ECG abnormalities correlated with tetany (p = 0.016), and palpitations (p = 0.014). Complications included cardiac arrest (n = 8), rhabdomyolysis (n = 23), and acute renal injury (n = 9). Severe EI was linked to respiratory distress and creatine kinase levels higher than ≥ 253 UI/l. A normal ECG within 1 h post-injury was correlated to a low risk of severe EI. At 2-year follow-up, 43.9% of survivors reported aesthetic sequelae, 25.3% had psychological disorders, and 7% of adults could not return to their previous occupations.

Conclusion: EIs are frequent, with diverse clinical presentations requiring multidisciplinary care. Awareness of potential delayed complications is essential, and prevention is crucial.

Keywords: Electrical injuries; Emergency; Epidemiology; Management; Outcomes; Sequelae.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

References

    1. Gille J, Schmidt T, Dragu A, Emich D, Hilbert-Carius P, Kremer T, et al. Electrical injury – a dual center analysis of patient characteristics, therapeutic specifics, and outcome predictors. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2018;26(1):43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-018-0513-2 . - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Warenits AM, Aman M, Zanon C, Klimitz F, Kammerlander AA, Laggner A, et al. International multi-center analysis of in-hospital morbidity and mortality of low-voltage electrical injuries. Front Med. 2020;7: 590758. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2020.590758 . - DOI
    1. Ahmed J, Stenkula C, Omar S, Ghanima J, Bremtun FF, Bergan J, et al. Patient outcomes after electrical injury—a retrospective study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2021;29(1):114. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-021-00920-3 . - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Pawlik AM, Lampart A, Stephan FP, Bingisser R, Ummenhofer W, Nickel CH. Outcomes of electrical injuries in the emergency department: a 10-year retrospective study. Eur J Emerg Med. 2016;23(6):448–54. https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0000000000000283 . - DOI - PubMed
    1. Schissler K, Pruden C. Pediatric electrical injuries in the emergency department: an evidence-based review. Pediatr Emerg Med Pract. 2021;18(12):1–24. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources