Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of General Surgery

This study attempts to show the prevalence of electrical burns in our unit and the epidemiological difference between high and low voltage injuries. It comprises retrospective study including the years 2010- 2014 and prospective study of the year 2015. The retrospective study is more of a statistical analysis of number of electrical burn patients and mortality rate, while in the prospective study we were able to follow the patients, treatment process, response and outcome. In the retrospective section, 1233 burn patients were admitted ,118 were due to electric injury, 21 females, 25 cases of high voltage burns, 93 cases were due to low voltage injury, 44 cases of contact injuries, 83 flash burn patients, 5 cases of amputation and 13 mortality cases. In the prospective section, 277 burn patients were admitted, of which 15 were due to electric injury, 2 females, 10 cases of high voltage burns, 14 cases of contact injuries, 1 flash burn patient, 6 cases of amputation and 2 mortality cases. Electric burn injury predominantly involves young males aged 21-40 years. Our study has found a constant incidence of electric burn injuries ranging between 15- 29 cases per year (5.4-10.2 % of total burn cases) in the successive years. In 2015, amputation rate was 40%. Since such devastating injuries with high morbidity rate stem from largely avoidable hazards, there is need for adoption of preventive strategies which appear to be the most effective way in controlling health problems related to the electric burn injuries

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