Neurológia pre prax 5/2023

Electrical injury and lightning injury of the nervous system

When an electric shock occurs, it depends on the voltage, the length of the current, the type of current and where is the localization on the human body. A lightning strike is always very dangerous and connecting with a high mortality. A person can be affected by a direct hit, an indirect hit from surrounding structures, or a hit by ground currents. Nervous system can be damaged at the periphery (peripheral nerves), but also the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. Electric shock injuries are often of a more severe degree. The treatment is usually long-lasting. The final clinical outcome of the damaged nervous system is usually not perfect and may be incomplete. Prevention is therefore important, both for electric shocks and lightning injuries.

Keywords: electric shock, lightning, tissue damage, encephalopathy, neuropathy