Management of early complications of the electrical injury and repair of the injured hands.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the management of early complications and repair of hand injuries in electrically injured patients. METHODS: Forty-five patients with electrical injuries admitted during 1995 and 2001 were analyzed retrospectively in terms of the incidences of early complications and the deformity of the injured hands repaired using different approaches. RESULTS: In the order of incidence, the complications arising in the early stages after electrical injuries included electric shock, hypovolemic shock, cardiac dysfunction, hemorrhage of the digestive tract, pulmonary infection, massive bleeding of the wound and renal dysfunction. The incidence of deformity of the hands was 79%. CONCLUSION: Proper management of early complications and repair of the injured hands are of great importance in cases of electrical surgery.