Abstract
Introduction
Electrical injuries represent 0.4–3.2% of admissions to burn units and are responsible for >500 deaths per year in the United States. Approximately half occur in the workplace and are the fourth leading cause of work-related-traumatic death. The extent of injury can be drastically underestimated by total body surface area percentage (TBSA). Along with cutaneous burns, high voltage electrical injuries can lead to necrosis of muscle, bone, nervous tissue, and blood vessels. Aggressive management allows for patient survival, but at significant cost. Newer technologic advances help improve functional outcomes.
Methods
This case-report was conducted via retrospective chart review of the case presented.
Results
A 43-year-old male sustained a HVEI (>10, 000 V) after contacting an active wire while working as a linesman for an electric company. He presented after less than 15-minute transport from an outside hospital with full thickness burns and auto-amputation to all fingers on both hands and the distal third of the left hand (Images 1 and 2). There were full thickness circumferential burns to the entire left and right upper extremities with contractures, with the burns extending into the axilla, and chest wall musculature. The patient had 4th degree burns and a large wound to the left shoulder with posterior extension to the scapula, flank and back with approximately 25% TBSA (Image 3). Compartments were tense in both upper extremities. Patient was sedated and intubated to protect the airway and placed on mechanical ventilation. A femoral central line was then placed, and the patient was given pain control, continued fluid resuscitation, and blood products. Dark red colored urine from a foley catheter that was immediately identified as rhabdomyolysis induced myoglobinuria. Labs drawn demonstrated elevated troponin I, CK >40,000. BUN 18, creatinine 1.0, K+ 5.2 and phosphate 5.6. Decision was made immediately for operative intervention with emergent amputation of both upper extremities in the light of rhabdomyolysis secondary to tissue necrosis and oliguria. During the patient’s hospital course, he underwent multiple operations for further debridement with vacuum-assisted closure therapy and skin grafting of sites, as well as targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) 6 months later at an outside hospital.
Conclusions
Although HVEI only account for a small percentage of burn admissions, they are associated with greater morbidity than low-voltage injuries. Patients with HVEI often incur multiple injuries, more surgical procedures, have higher rates of complications, and more long term psychological and rehabilitative difficulties. Despite the need for amputation in some of these critically ill patients, options exist that allow for them to obtain long term functional success.