Epidemiology of electrical injury: Differences between low- and high-voltage electrical injuries during a 7-year study period in South Korea.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Electrical burns are uncommon, but they result in high morbidity and mortality due to severe tissue damage. The purpose of this study is to analyze epidemiological variables of electrical injuries and identify preventable measures through them.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 625 patients admitted to Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital's Department of Plastic Surgery from January 2005 to December 2011. We divided the patients into two groups: (1) low-voltage injury (under 1000 V) and (2) high-voltage injury (over 1000 V). We reviewed the following variables: age, sex, total burn surface area, injury type and mode, and surgical modalities.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The mean age of all patients was 33.4 ± 18.2 years. The ratio of males to females was 13.5 in the whole group. The mean total body surface are burned was 14.0% ± 13.8% in total. The majority of electrical burns in the low-tension group and high-tension group occurred in patients under 20 years and in patients aged 40-59 years, respectively. Steel chopstick insertions and high-voltage electrical work/repair were the most common injury modes in the low-tension group and the high-tension group, respectively. Groin and abdominal distant flap surgeries were commonly performed in both groups. It is recommended that these risks be prevented through education and safety measures to reduce the incidence of electrical injuries.