Electrical Injuries of the Hand and Upper Extremity. 2019

Donald H Lee, and Mihir J Desai, and Erich M Gauger
From the Department of Orthopaedics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.

High-voltage electrical injuries are relatively rare injuries that pose unique challenges to the treating physician, yet the initial management follows well-established life-saving, trauma- and burn-related principles. The upper extremities are involved in most electrical injuries because they are typically the contact points to the voltage source. The amount of current that passes through a specific tissue is inversely proportional to the tissue's intrinsic resistance with electricity predominantly affecting the skeletal muscle secondary to its large volume in the upper extremity. Therefore, cutaneous burns often underestimate the true extent of the injury because most current is through the deep tissues. Emergent surgical exploration is reserved for patients with compartment syndrome; otherwise, initial débridement can be delayed for 24 to 48 hours to allow tissue demarcation. Early rehabilitation, wound coverage, and delayed deformity reconstruction are important concepts in treating electrical injuries.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009626 Terminology as Topic Works about the terms, expressions, designations, or symbols used in a particular science, discipline, or specialized subject area. Etymology,Nomenclature as Topic,Etymologies
D002058 Burns, Electric Burns produced by contact with electric current or from a sudden discharge of electricity. Electric Burns,Burn, Electric,Electric Burn
D005392 First Aid Emergency care or treatment given to a person who suddenly becomes ill or injured before full medical services become available. Aid, First,Aids, First,First Aids
D006230 Hand Injuries General or unspecified injuries to the hand. Injuries, Hand,Hand Injury,Injury, Hand
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D034941 Upper Extremity The region of the upper limb in animals, extending from the deltoid region to the HAND, and including the ARM; AXILLA; and SHOULDER. Extremity, Upper,Membrum superius,Upper Limb,Extremities, Upper,Limb, Upper,Limbs, Upper,Upper Extremities,Upper Limbs

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