Electric Burn - Early Plastic Surgical Intervention can Save Arm
Electric burn injuries are common injuries in India. Both man and women are affected by these type of injuries. In can happen in factories and in house. Children also visit very commonly in our hospital with electric burn injuries.
A Care of Electric Burn
Recently Mrs Deepa a young woman from Mathura city presented to our emergency department with electric burn injuries. She got burn injury while working at home . On examination it was found that She was having electric contact burn at base of index and middle finger and distal palm of right hand. Next day when she was re-examined her arm was very tight and hand was grossly swollen. She was developing compartment syndrome.She was immediately taken for surgery and tight muscle compartment was released by giving a long cut in arm by plastic surgeon. Compartment release is a limb saving procedure . This must be done as early as possible. One compartment is released blood flow to the arm and forearm muscles and hand is restored
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| Right Forearm with compartment syndrome |
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| Forearm after compartment release |
Cause of Electric Burn-
Electric burn happens whenever somebody comes in contact with electric wire or any object through which electricity is passing.Sometime there is sparking from wires and it lead to thermal burn and it is called as electric flash burn.
Symptoms of Electric Burn -
Patients with Electric burns present with different symptoms
- Electric shock
- Electric contact burn with wounds on body . They are called as entry and exit wounds
- Deep burn wounds
- Gangrene of hand , Arm , leg and Thigh
- Electric spark leading to flash burn
Cause of Death In Electric Burn -
Most common cause of death in an electric burn patient is cardiac arrythmia . In such cases when electricity passes through body it disturb the normal heart rhythm and it is responsible for death in most of patient . those patient who survive for more than 24 hours may die due to many other complications of electric burn.
