Slovenská chirurgia 4/2019
Electrical burns in our centre
Introduction: Electrical burns are non frequent termic injuries, but with serious involvement to the body of victim. Materials and methods: 116 patients were hospitalized since 1.1.2004 to 31.12.2017 in Burns and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic Hospital Košice-Šaca with electrical burns. These patients were 3,49 % of all 3399 hospitalized burned patients. Electrical burns with less than 1000 Volts we considered as low tension burns, if more than 1000 Volts as high tension burns. Results: From 116 patients with electrical burns 86 were men, 28 children up to 18 years of age and 2 women. 75 cases were direct contact burns to source ( 64,9 %) , in 40 cases flash burns by electrical arc (34,2 %) and 1 case lightning injury (0.9 %). From all patients of this group 78 patients underwent al least 1 operation (68,5 %), 38 patients were without surgery (31,5 %). In the group of operations we had performed 86 skin graftings, in 27 operations flap plasties (skin flaps, fasciocutaneous flaps, musclecutaneous flaps) and 17 operations were amputations . Conclusion: In the group of all burned patients electrical burns are rare, but if the victims survive the permanent sequelae and the ability to work are problem of whole society. The management of these injuries is dedicated to specialized centres.
Keywords: electrical burn, treatment, operation
