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THE
ELECTRICAL BURNS
CHARACTERISTICS
OF HIGH TENSION INJURIES
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| "Exit"
sites can be very innocuous appearing but are pathonomonic
of a "current injury". Remember that the current
is exiting so the tissue damage is far more extensive than
outer appearance. High voltage injury is a major burn,
should be transferred in view of risks of muscle, vessel,
nerve damage.
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Typical
"entrance" site for high voltage injury. Note: the
concave appearance of the hand burn reflecting tissue
desiccation from passage of current Carpal tunnel syndrome
is very common with a hand entrance.
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A
vast array of injuries result from the electrical damage.
The electrical current, being very powerful both releases
heat and directly damages tissue during transit. The
determination that a current injury to underlying tissue may
be present is the finding of entrance and exit sites. Their
presence is pathognomonic of the passage of electrical
current beneath the skin through the tissue and by definition
requires admission.
The
heat generated at the skin surface is dependent on the local
resistance, which in the dry hand can be sufficient to
generate heat in excess of 10000 C with
high-voltage sources. This will lead to local mummification
at the entrance. A wet hand will allow passage of more
current with little resistance and the entrance site may
look very innocuous.
INJURIES
FROM ELECTRICAL CURRENT
1)
Flame burn from arc or flash
2) Current of Injury
3) Blunt Trauma
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