[Electric burns: epidemiological and therapeutic aspects]

Abstract

Objectives: A retrospective study of patients with electrical burns was conducted to choose criteria for initial dispatching and establish a treatment protocol for out patient management.

Methods: The study included 67 patients injured by electrical current and admitted at Edouard Herriot Hospital Burns Unit between January 1st 1990 and January 1st 1993.

Results: Low-voltage currents (< 1000 Volts) responsible for serious and immediate cardio-vascular diseases occurred in domestic accidents, mostly with children. High-voltage current (> 1000 Volts) responsible for deep burn injuries occurred in accidents at work and mostly with adults. Twenty-two were outpatients and 45 were admitted at once. Two died on admission, 24 were hospitalized less than five days, 11 required repeated surgical treatments and a long stay at hospital, and 8 were severely burned and were admitted to the intensive-care unit. Two required continuous venovenous hemodialysis for three weeks. Morbidity of the last three groups was nil, morbidity remained high in term of functional and aesthetic after-effects.

Conclusion: Information on prevention of electrical burns should be intensified.