Published online Jan 9, 2022. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v11.i1.58
Peer-review started: March 23, 2021
First decision: May 6, 2021
Revised: June 11, 2021
Accepted: December 23, 2021
Article in press: December 23, 2021
Published online: January 9, 2022
We have come a long way since the discovery of electricity and have become totally dependent on it. Yet there are numerous hazards associated with it. The accidental injuries sustained from electricity can potentially cripple individuals making them completely dependent on others for activities of daily living. There are a limited number of studies investigating the causes and characteristics of electrical injuries and the quality of life in these patients following treatment. In-depth evaluation of the circumstances of injuries and overall quality of life in this particular subset of patients has not been thoroughly evaluated.
Knowledge of the characteristics of electrical burn injuries and understanding the circumstances in which these injuries are sustained can help to formulate specific preventive strategies. The subjects who are at maximum risk of sustaining these injuries can be educated on these preventive measures. This will help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these devastating injuries.
To study the epidemiology of electrical burns and to define the population which is at maximum risk of sustaining such injuries. The impact of electric burns on these patients and their quality of life along with the potential of returning to previous work were also evaluated.
This prospective study was conducted over a period of 18 mo at a tertiary care teaching hospital. All patients presenting to the Trauma Center with a history of sustaining electrical burns and satisfying the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The course of the patient in hospital was followed and epidemiological data were collected using a burn proforma. Follow up was carried out at 3 mo, 6 mo and 9 mo. The standardized and valid Brief Version of the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS-B) was adopted to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The normality of quantitative data was assessed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Normally distributed data were compared using One-Way ANOVA followed by the post hoc Multiple Comparisons test. For time related variables of skewed data the Wilcoxon Signed rank test was applied; for normally distributed data ANOVA was carried out. Analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS statistics (version 22.0). A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
These injuries were more common in males and in the younger population. The majority of injuries were occupation-related and mostly accidental in nature, mainly due to ignorance as well as carelessness on the part of the victims. Hence, many injuries and resultant morbidities could have been prevented by mass education and awareness. A significant number of patients were uneducated. Thus, they had to take menial jobs without being aware of the appropriate safety measures. There was also a lack of awareness amongst their supervisors. Patients had a combination of contact and flash burns. The variety of associated injuries in these patients made a multidisciplinary approach vital for effective management. The patients underwent a variety of surgeries depending on the extent of the initial injury, of which amputation was the most devastating. Limb salvage necessitated multiple complex procedures which required intricate planning and execution. The quality of life among patients sustaining high voltage electrical burns and amputees was poor.
Electrical burns cause extensive damage requiring multiple surgeries and reconstructive techniques. This makes it a major economic burden for the patient as well as the government. In addition, there are various social and rehabilitative challenges for the patient as well as his or her family. The patients who underwent multiple limb amputations became dependent on caregivers even for basic activities of daily living for the rest of their lives. It is a major challenge for these patients to return to pre-injury status due to the significant stigma of initial injury and persistent tissue damage. This underscores the importance of effective preventive strategies to reduce these injuries.
Future studies should be carried out to determine the efficacy of various preventive strategies to decrease the frequency of these injuries and to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with electrical burns.