Advances in the evaluation and treatment of electrical and thermal injury emergencies

Advances in the evaluation and treatment of electrical and thermal injuries suggest that the mechanism of injury in electrical trauma is more complex than once thought. Thermal and nonthermal tissue damage can cause extensive destruction which may result in amputation rates as high as 65 percent for accident survivors. This paper discusses the terminology around electrical trauma and reviews current understanding of the mechanisms of injury when an employee is exposed to electrical hazards. Building on the classical analysis of electrical arc blast burns, the use of burn models as predictors of injury is considered. Finally, electrical injury concepts and their implications for treatment in the emergency and hospital settings are presented