Clinical Pattern of Limb Loss in Electrical Burn Injuries: Limb Loss in Electrical Burn Injuries

Aamna Sanober; Afaq Saleem Siddique; Shahzad Shaikh; Samra Irshad; Pir Naveed Ahmed Ahsan Qureshi; Hira Sangrasi; Rabia Memon

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v6i1.2628

Authors

Aamna Sanober Department of Plastic Surgery, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Afaq Saleem Siddique Department of Plastic Surgery, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
Shahzad Shaikh Department of Plastic Surgery, Bilawal Medical College, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Samra Irshad Department of Plastic Surgery, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Pir Naveed Ahmed Ahsan Qureshi Department of Plastic Surgery, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Hira Sangrasi Department of Plastic Surgery, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Rabia Memon Department of Plastic Surgery, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v6i1.2628

Keywords:

Electrical Burn Injuries, Amputations, High-Voltage Burns, Total Body Surface Area

Abstract

Electrical burn injuries are severe and often lead to significant morbidity, including amputations, especially in high-voltage cases. These injuries commonly occur in occupational settings and can result in prolonged hospitalization and complications. Studying clinical patterns in electrical burn injuries is crucial to identifying risk factors, improving early interventions, and guiding effective treatment plans. Objective: To analyze the clinical pattern of amputation in electric burn patients at Burns Unit, Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad, from Nov 2023 to May 2024. A total of 84 patients, of all ages and both genders who presented with electrical burn injuries were included. While those with scald burns, dry flame burns, contact burns, thermal burns, or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus were excluded. Data collection involved recording demographic details and clinical parameters like the type of burn, total body surface area affected, cause and place of burn, duration of hospital stay, mortality rate and surgical intervention. Results: Among all, 54.8% (n=46) required amputations, with 35.7% involving a single limb and 19% multiple limbs. Upper limb amputations were more common (60.9%) compared to lower limb amputations (39.1%), with an 11.9% mortality rate. High-voltage burns were significantly associated with severe total body surface area involvement, prolonged hospitalization, fasciotomies, and multiple limb amputations. Conclusion: It was concluded that the study reported a high frequency of limb loss (due to amputation) i.e. 54.8% (n=46) among patients with electric burn.

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