ABSTRACT

Aims:

Electrical injuries continue to present health problems with devastating complications and long-term socioeconomic impact. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics, complications, morbidity, and mortality associated with electrical injuries.

Material-method:

The charts of patients who had been treated between January 2001 and January 2006 in the emergency department of Karadeniz Technical University Medical Center with electrical burn injuries were retrospectively reviewed.

Results:

Of the 73 acute electrical burn patients presenting over a 5-year period, 85% of the patients were men, 65% had high voltage, while 35% had low-voltage injuries. Low-voltage injuries were associated with a higher rate of complications than patients with high voltage injuries (p<0.0005). Electrical injuries accompanied by a fall from a height were associated with longer hospitalizations (p<0.005).

Conclusion:

The appearance of electrical injury complications and electrical injuries accompanied by a fall effects morbidity and length of hospitalization.