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Electrical burns

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Electrical burns

Electrical burns occur when electric current passes through the body, generating heat that damages the skin, muscle, nerves, and internal organs....
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Electrical burns: Symptom, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Electrical burns occur when electric current passes through the body, generating heat that damages the skin, muscle, nerves, and internal organs. Unlike thermal burns, they may cause significant internal injury even when surface damage appears minimal. Causes include faulty wiring, industrial equipment, improperly grounded power lines, and lightning strikes. High-voltage injuries carry a risk of cardiac arrest and deep tissue destruction. Specialists at Manipal Hospitals provide evaluation and management to support recovery and reduce complications.

Symptoms of Electrical burns

Electrical burn symptoms may include burns or charred skin at entry and exit points, along with numbness, tingling, or nerve injury. Patients may also experience muscle pain, weakness, irregular heartbeat, blisters, swelling, confusion, loss of consciousness, or seizures.

How We Diagnose Electrical burns

Diagnosis begins with clinical assessment of the injury. Doctors perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect arrhythmias. Blood and urine tests help identify rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle tissue that can affect kidney function. Imaging tests such as CT or MRI may be used when internal or neurological injury is suspected. These findings guide an individualised treatment plan.

Treatment Options

Electrical burn treatment may include wound debridement, skin grafting, intravenous fluids, and cardiac monitoring. It may also involve fasciotomy to relieve pressure in muscle compartments and pain management. Physiotherapy supports recovery, and high-voltage injuries often require require a combination of these treatments.

What to Expect

At Manipal Hospitals, patients with electrical burns receive immediate and structured care from the time of admission as part of comprehensive electric shock burn care. The process begins with urgent cardiac monitoring and a comprehensive trauma assessment to identify associated injuries.

Doctors complete diagnostic investigations promptly and develop a personalised treatment plan based on burn depth, extent of injury, and overall patient condition. Wound management may include advanced dressings and, when required, skin grafting performed by burn and plastic surgery specialists. Patients with severe injuries may require breathing support or immobilisation for associated fractures.

Treatment may also include therapies to support kidney function and remove toxins released from damaged muscle tissue, as well as surgical procedures such as fasciotomy for compartment syndrome. Recovery time varies depending on the severity and location of the injury.

Follow-up visits help ensure proper healing, reduce the risk of infection or scarring, and monitor nerve recovery and cardiac function. Patients also receive guidance on wound care, skin protection, and activity precautions to support recovery and prevent complications.

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