During the past 10 years period from April, 1961. to March 1971, 144 cases of electrical burn patients
were treated at surgical Department, Han-Il hospital. The author reviewed and discussed our clinical
experience of electrical thermal injuries.
Clinical analysis of these 144 cases of electrical burn patients was carried out and summarized as
follows;
1. The majority of the patients ranged two to four decades of life (80.6%); The youngest 1 year
old and oldest 53 years of age, and ot occupied 80.6% with the 116 cases of the youth from 21 to 50
years old.
2. Male were involved significantly more than females, the incidence being 138 cases (95.8%), and
6 cases (4.2%).
3. Seasonal distribution showed more than about two third with 99 cases for rainy summer times and
Autumn from May to October; In March, April and May 33 cases (22.8%), in June and August 54
cases (37.5%), In September, October and November 31 cases (21.5%), and in December, January and
February 26 cases (18.1%).
4. Among 144 cases of electrical burn patients, 62 patients (59.6%) were under 5% of ody surfaces,
14 patients (13.4%) 6∼10%, 8 patients (7.9%) 11∼15%, 10 patients (9.6%) 16∼20%, and 10
patients (9.5%) were over 21% of body surface.
5. In the regional distribution of burn wound, the upper extremity were 138 (67.6%), 37 (18.1%)
in lower extremity and 29 (14.3%) in other region.
6. Occupational distribution; The electric line man and electrician were seen 91 cases (79.4%) which
is two third of 144 patients, labor 10 cases (6.8%), 7 cases (4.8%) in painter and student, and 8 cases
(5.5%) in company employer.
7. Most of the patient (106 cases) cisited to our clinic with in 24 hours following electrical injury.
and 77 cases (72.5%) of them arrived with in 6 hours.
8. The most frequently complication at electric burn of 144 cases were fracture 11 cases (7.6%), head
trauma (intracranial bleeding and basal bone fracture of skull) 8 cases (5.6%), contused wound 9 cases
(6.2%).
9. The predominating organisms cultured out of burn wounds of 22 cases were Stapylococcus aureus
7 (31.8%), Pseudomonas auerginosa 4 (18.2%), E.coli 3(13.7%), Staphylococcus albus 1(4.5%),
β-hemolytic streptococcus 1 (4.5%) and no growth were 6 (27.3%).
10. The type of current and the voltage in 80 cases among the 144 cases of electrical burn patients
was clear. Injury of the 79 cases out of the 80 cases were by indirect current and the one was by direct
current. In 79 cases by indirect current, electrical burn in accordance with high tension current in voltage
was 62 cases (77.5%), low tension current injuries 17 cases (21.3%).
11. Early excision of all necrotic tissue and skin grafting was perfomred in 48 cases (33.3%) among
144 electrical burn patients.
12. Among 144 cases of electric burn patients, late complication and disability were seen 40 cases
(27.8%), which is 16 cases in amputation, 8 cases in cicatrical contraction, 4 cases in serum hepatitis,
4 cases in arm or lower extremity paralysis, 2 cases in osteomyelitis, 2 cases in ankylosis of knee joint,
2 cases in drop foot, 1 cases in anal stricture and 1 cases in catarac.
13. The overall mortality in this series was 5% (7 cases) and the most frequent cause of the death
was due to head injury (5 cases) at the time of electrical burn injuries.
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