Electrical Hand Burns

Abstract

Electrical burns make up only 2% of all burn injuries in Denmark. In the course of about 6 years 31 patients with electrical hand burns have been admitted to the Burns Unit, Kommunehospitalet, Copenhagen. The causes are reviewed. Three of the injuries were caused by high-tension current (> 1000 volts), the remaining 28 by 220 or 380 v. alternate current. Unlike the electrical mouth burns in children, the hand injuries were not due to any predominant single cause. The causes were defective flexes, incorrectly mounted plugs, short-circuit in bracket lamps and T.V. sets. Accordingly, the only form of prophylaxis against electrical hand burns is to have all repairs done by skilled persons who must observe the working instructions and display common sense. In our opinion, the treatment should be early excision and coverage with a pedicled flap if tendon or bone is exposed. Electrical injuries show a marked tendency to progress in the depth, and, if treated conservatively, often lead to septic necrosis. If the wounds are covered primarily by a pedicled flap, aseptic fibrosis is the worst that may happen. Of the 31 patients 12 were treated by pedicled flap, with a satisfactory result in all.