Electrical Injuries

Abstract

Electric currents are widely used as an energy source. When an electric current passes through a human body, it can cause skin lesions, organ injury, and death. The effects of electric currents depend on many factors, including the open/closed status of the electric circuit, type of current, electric voltage, current strength in amperes, tissue resistance, exposure time, and path of the current. Electric injuries may result from the direct effect of the electric current on body tissues, deep and superficial injuries resulting from the conversion of electrical energy into thermal energy, muscle contractions due to electric shock and/or post-shock falls, and blunt trauma. Patients who are admitted for medical care after significant electric exposure should be approached as a multi-trauma patient; it should be remembered that their injuries may be quite diverse, and all organ systems should be examined in detail. There is no specific treatment for electric injury, necessitating a symptomatic approach depending on the affected organ.