How to Treat Electric Burn Wounds?

Update Date: 2024-05-16 Source: Network

Electrical burns, commonly known as electric shock injuries, can easily occur in accidents or when encountering leakage situations on the road. Severe voltages can cause immediate shock or even fatality to the patient's body. Generally, some emergency measures can help the patient. So, how should we treat wounds caused by electrical burns?

Electrical burns refer to extensive damage to the body, skin, subcutaneous tissue, deep muscles, blood vessels, nerves, bones, joints, and internal organs caused by the thermal, electrophysiological, electrochemical effects, and arcs, sparks, etc. generated by the passage of electricity through the human body.

Here are some recommended treatment steps:

Immediate first aid includes cutting off the power source or using a non-conductive object to separate the power source. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be performed for those with respiratory or cardiac arrest, and electrocardiographic monitoring should be maintained after resuscitation.
The amount of fluid resuscitation should not be calculated based on the surface area of the burn. Adequate estimation should be made for deep tissue damage.
During debridement, special attention should be paid to incision and decompression, including fascial incision for decompression.
Early systemic administration of high-dose antibiotics (such as penicillin) is recommended. Due to the necrosis and oxygen supply impairment of deep tissues, anaerobic infection should be particularly guarded against. The local area should be exposed, rinsed with hydrogen peroxide solution, and wet dressing applied. Injection of tetanus antitoxin is an absolute indication.

Common clinical manifestations include entrance and exit wounds, often elliptical and generally limited to the site of contact with the conductor. However, the actual damage can be deep, reaching muscles, bones, or internal organs, with the entrance being more severe. The appearance is locally yellowish-brown or charred, with severe cases showing complete carbonization and coagulation of tissues, with neat and dry edges. Early pain is relatively mild, and edema is not obvious, but inflammatory reactions and significant edema may appear in the surrounding tissues after 24 to 48 hours. The skin surrounding the electrical burn is often burned by electric sparks or clothing, and it is usually a deep burn as well.