Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39869174›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society2025

Outcomes of electrical injuries in the emergency department: epidemiology, severity predictors, and chronic sequelae.

Rym Karray, Olfa Chakroun-Walha, Folla Mechri, Imen Salem, Hanen Drira, Abdennour Nasri, Ayman Damak, Noureddine Rekik

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Article in European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Rym KarrayEmergency Department, Habib bourguiba university hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax University, Majida Boulila Avenue, Sfax, Tunisia.
Olfa Chakroun-WalhaEmergency Department, Habib bourguiba university hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax University, Majida Boulila Avenue, Sfax, Tunisia. chakroun_olfa@medecinesfax.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9224-7080
Folla MechriEmergency Department, Habib bourguiba university hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax University, Majida Boulila Avenue, Sfax, Tunisia.
Imen SalemEmergency Department, Habib bourguiba university hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax University, Majida Boulila Avenue, Sfax, Tunisia.
Hanen DriraEmergency Department, Habib bourguiba university hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax University, Majida Boulila Avenue, Sfax, Tunisia.
Abdennour NasriEmergency Department, Habib bourguiba university hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax University, Majida Boulila Avenue, Sfax, Tunisia.
Ayman DamakCardiac Surgery Department, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia.
Noureddine RekikEmergency Department, Habib bourguiba university hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Sfax University, Majida Boulila Avenue, Sfax, Tunisia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionElectrical injuries (EIs) represent a significant clinical challenge due to their complex pathophysiology and variable presentation, ranging from minor burns to severe internal organ damage. Despite their prevalence in both; domestic and occupational settings, there remains a rareness of systematic guidelines and comprehensive literature to aid clinicians in effectively managing these injuries. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing protocols that can mitigate the risk of delayed complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias, in patients who initially appear stable.

objectivesThis study aims to elucidate the epidemiology, clinical outcomes, and predictors of severe presentation in EIs, providing insights to improve patient assessment and management strategies.

methodsA retrospective study was conducted over 4 years. Data were collected from standardized medical records. The group of patients with severe complications included those who presented a life-threatening cardiac, respiratory, neurological, or biological impairment or died within the first 48 h of the EI.

resultsWe enrolled 118 cases of electrical injury (EI). Ages ranged from 4 to 82 years, with 31.3% under 15. EI incidence peaked in summer, with 63.5% being home accidents. High-voltage injuries occurred in 13.6%. The most common ED complaints were burns in children (59.5%) and trauma in adults (48.1%). ECG abnormalities correlated with tetany (p = 0.016), and palpitations (p = 0.014). Complications included cardiac arrest (n = 8), rhabdomyolysis (n = 23), and acute renal injury (n = 9). Severe EI was linked to respiratory distress and creatine kinase levels higher than ≥ 253 UI/l. A normal ECG within 1 h post-injury was correlated to a low risk of severe EI. At 2-year follow-up, 43.9% of survivors reported aesthetic sequelae, 25.3% had psychological disorders, and 7% of adults could not return to their previous occupations.

conclusionEIs are frequent, with diverse clinical presentations requiring multidisciplinary care. Awareness of potential delayed complications is essential, and prevention is crucial.

Indexed as

Burns, ElectricElectric InjuriesEmergency Service, HospitalAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansIncidenceInjury Severity ScoreMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesElectrical injuriesEmergencyEpidemiologyManagementOutcomesSequelae

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.