Factors related to Electrical Burn Injuries in Occupational and Non-occupational settings from 2010 to 2021 in Colombia: Cross-sectional Design

Burns affect 11 million people worldwide annually. Electrical burns are renowned for inflicting extensive harm and long-term consequences that can lead to severe illnesses and fatalities. People in both occupational and non-occupational settings may be exposed to electrical burns, leading to functional or anatomical consequences. We identified sociodemographic features related to electrical burns in both settings. A cross sectional design, using an open dataset of electrical shock injuries occurred in Colombia during 2010-2021 period, was carried out. Sociodemographic features of people injured in occupational and non-occupational settings were described in counts (%), incidence per 100.000 people (I0;95% CI). To identify related factors (age-sex adjusted) with injuries in occupational and non-occupational settings, we applied a Binary Logistic Regression. Over the 12-year period, there were 1.274 electrical burns (I0: 2.47;2.34-2.61), 287 in the occupational setting (I0: 1.35;1.20-1.51) and 987 in the non-occupational setting (I0: 3.25;3.05-3.46). Age median was 31 years, most cases distributed in middle adulthood (52.8%), males (88.1%), high school/technician (42.8%), urban location (73.7%), weekdays (95.3%), and daytime hours (85.5%). Factors related to electrical burns in the occupational setting were males, middle adulthood, high school/technician, Thursday, and daytime hours. Otherwise, factors related to electrical burns in the non-occupational setting were early childhood, primary school, urban location, and weekends. Both settings pose a risk of injuries to individuals. We have identified sociodemographic factors related to these injuries in both occupational and non-occupational settings, which could aid in preventing damages and long-term complications, especially among vulnerable subgroups such as determined above.

Cervical Myelopathy after High-voltage Electrical Burn of the Head: Report of an Unusual Case

High-voltage electrical injuries are uncommonly reported and may predispose to both immediate and delayed neurologic complications. We present a case of 27-year-old male who experienced a high-voltage electrical burn of the head resulting in quadriparesis. High-voltage electrocution injuries are a serious problem with potential for immediate, delayed, and long-term neurologic sequelae. The existing literature regarding effective treatment of neurologic complications is limited. Multidisciplinary management and long-term follow up are required.

Influences of high-voltage electrical burns on the pulmonary microcirculation in rabbits

This study was performed to investigate the effects of high-voltage electrical burns (HEB) on the pulmonary microcirculation in rabbits. Total of 120 rabbits were randomly divided into control and HEB group using a random number table. HEB model was developed with a voltage regulator and experimental transformer. Laser Doppler perfusion imager was utilized to monitor and quantify the blood perfusion in pulmonary microcirculation. The microvascular morphologic changes of the lung were observed using light microscopy and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The lung wet/dry weight ratio and the PaO2 were determined. The values of blood perfusion in rabbit pulmonary microcirculation in the HEB group were decreased at 5 min, but increased at 1 h after burn (P <  0.01) and then decreased gradually. Light microscopy reveals microthrombus formation in pulmonary venules and bleeding in venous capillaries in HEB group. We found the number of microvilli in the capillary endothelial cells decreased, the rough endoplasmic reticulum expanded and severe degranulation occurred, the mitochondrial cristae fused or disappeared, and severe edema surrounded the capillary endothelial cells by TEM. The values of lung wet/dry weight ratio were higher and the PaO2 were lower than that of before burn group (P <  0.01). These results demonstrated that microcirculatory disorders play a major role in the development of progressive lung damage after high-voltage electrical burns.