Electrical burn is still a major risk factor for amputations

Many difficult decisions are faced in the early management of severely burned patient. The decision to amputate an extremity or extremities may be very difficult but reduce morbidity and enhance survival of the patient. In a total of 1144 patients from January 2000 and June 2011, there were 44 patients (3.8%) undergoing amputations of the digits or upper extremity proximal to the wrist or lower extremity above the ankle. Amputations were significantly higher in males and the mean hospitalization time was also significantly higher in these patients. Majority of the patients had non-viable tissue (79.5%) and nine patients (20.5%) had a septic focus as cause of amputation. The majority of amputations were caused by high-voltage electrical injury. Education and compliance with safety measures, as well as common sense and respect for the potential danger of electricity, are still essential for avoiding these injuries.