Queimadura elétrica: Análise epidemiológica dos pacientes da Unidade de Queimados do Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia / Electrical burns: Epidemiological analysis of patients at the Burns Unit of the Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Uberlândia

Introdução: O uso da corrente elétrica é imprescindível nas nossas atividades do cotidiano, porém, seu contato com tecidos vivos pode provocar queimaduras desde leves até graves ou fatais. Por se tratar de um problema de saúde pública, o conhecimento de sua epidemiologia é essencial para o desenvolvimento de programas em saúde. Método: Estudo transversal de dados registrados nos prontuários dos pacientes atendidos por queimadura elétrica na Unidade de Queimados do Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia entre os anos de 2013 e 2019. Resultados: Foram admitidos 26 pacientes, a maioria de sexo masculino (76,9%) e adultos (30,7%), vítimas de corrente de alta voltagem (65,4%) no trabalho (57,7%), que mais afetou as extremidades superiores (80,7%), sendo as crianças todas do sexo feminino (15,3%). O percentual médio de área queimada foi de 14,5% e o percentual de tratados com autoenxerto de pele foi de 53,8%. A média de permanência hospitalar foi de 40 dias e 3,8% deles foram para a Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. Não se registraram óbitos durante o período. Conclusão: A incidência de pacientes atendidos por queimadura elétrica é baixa, acometendo vítimas em todas as faixas etárias e com predomínio em indivíduos adultos do sexo masculino em seu local de trabalho. O tratamento cirúrgico mais realizado foi o autoenxerto de pele. As políticas de promoção, prevenção e proteção em saúde no que diz respeito aos perigos da corrente elétricas não estariam sendo praticadas e difundidas em nossa população doméstica, laboral ou empregadora, diferentemente como ocorre em grande parte dos países desenvolvidos.

Introduction: Using electric current is essential in our daily activities; however, its contact with living tissue can cause mild to severe or fatal burns. As it is a public health problem, knowledge of its epidemiology is essential for the development of health programs. Method: Cross-sectional study of data recorded in the medical records of patients treated for electrical burns at the Burns Unit of the Hospital de Clínicas of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia between 2013 and 2019. Results: 26 patients were admitted, the majority of whom were male (76 .9%) and adults (30.7%), victims of high voltage current (65.4%) at work (57.7%), which most affected the upper extremities (80.7%), with children all female (15.3%). The average percentage of burned area was 14. 5% and the % of those treated with skin autograft was 53.8%. The average hospital stay was 40 days, and 3.8% went to the Intensive Care Unit. No deaths were recorded during the period. Conclusion: The incidence of patients treated for electrical burns is low, affecting victims in all age groups and with a predominance of adult males in their workplace. The most common surgical treatment was skin autograft. Health promotion, prevention, and protection policies regarding the dangers of electrical currents would not be practiced and disseminated among our domestic, working, or employing population, unlike what occurs in most developed countries.

Electron Microscopic Study in the Rat Model of Electrically Injured Myelopathy: Preliminary Report.

Objective: The patient with electrically injured myelopathy showed mild motor weakness without somatosensory pathway abnormalities. Few reports have been reported on the pathophysiological mechanisms of electrically injured myelopathy, and there is controversy about the exact pathological causes. This study aimed to investigate the ultrastructural changes in the electron microscopic findings of electrical spinal cord injury. Methods: Nine rats were used in this study. We performed 7 electrical shocks (frequency, 120 Hz; pulse width, 0.9 ms; duration, 3 seconds; current, 99 mA) using an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) apparatus (57800 ECT unit; UGO BASILE). We used one ear and one contralateral hind limb as entry and exit sites, respectively. We only enrolled rats with hind limb weakness and performed electron microscopy evaluations of the spinal cord on the first day and 4 weeks after injury. Results: On the first day after injury, an electron microscopic examination showed a directly damaged area that appeared to be torn as physical damage, damaged myelin sheath, vacuolated axons in the myelin sheath, swollen Golgi apparatus, and injured mitochondria. Looking at changes in motor and sensory nerves, the sensory neurons showed recovered mitochondria and Golgi apparatus 4 weeks after injury; however, motor neurons still showed injured mitochondria, swollen Golgi apparatus, and endoplasmic reticulum. Conclusion: This study showed that recovery from ultrastructural injury was more rapid in sensory neurons than in motor neurons.

Epidemiological analyses of 480 patients with electrical burn complicated by cerebral trauma / 中华创伤杂志

Objective:To explore the epidemiological characteristics of patients with electrical burn at different voltages complicated by cerebral trauma, so as to provide a basis for improving the treatment level of such injury.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 480 patients with electrical burn complicated by cerebral trauma treated in Qingdao Municipal Hospital affiliated to Qingdao University from January 2001 to December 2019. According to the voltage intensity, the patients were divided into low voltage group (injury voltage<1 kV, n=295) and high voltage group (injury voltage≥1 kV, n=185). Gender, age, status of burn and other general data of all patients were collected. The clinical manifestations, consciousness [Glasgow coma scale (GCS)], imaging findings, treatment, prognosis [Glasgow outcome scale (GOS)] and complications were compared between the two groups. Results:(1) Gender and age: the male to female ratio was 5.4∶1.0; the peak age of onset occurred at 18-60 years, accounting for 302 patients (62.9%); the status of burn: the burn area ranged from 1%-78% [(20.0±4.0)%] total body surface area (TBSA), with the current outlet located at the head in 321 patients. (2) Clinical manifestations: consciousness disorders accounted for the highest proportion, with 295 patients (100%) in low voltage group and 185 patients (100%) in high voltage group, followed by headache which occurred in 178 patients (60.3%) in low voltage group and 115 patients (62.2%) in high voltage group (all P>0.05). (3) Consciousness: 37 patients presented coma, with 17 patients (5.8%) in low voltage group and 20 patients (10.8%) in high voltage group ( P<0.05). (4) Imaging findings: CT and MRI examination found cerebral edema, skull fracture, intracranial hematoma, cerebral ischemia, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and other positive lesions. In patients with head wounds (current inlet and outlet located in the head), the incidence of cerebral trauma was 44.0% in low voltage group and 86.8% in high voltage group ( P<0.05). In patients with no head wound (the current outlet was not located in the head), the incidence of cerebral trauma was 5.3% in low voltage group and 6.3% in high voltage group ( P>0.05). In contrast with the patients without current outlet locating in the head, there were three more types of cerebral trauma in patients with current outlet locating in the head, including skull fracture, intracranial hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage. (5) Treatment, prognosis and complications: 478 patients (99.6%) received non-surgical treatment and 2 patients (0.4%) received surgical treatment. There was 1 death (0.2%) and 479 successfully treated patients (99.8%). The prognosis was good in 280 patients (94.9%), moderately disabled in 13(4.4%) and severely disabled in 2(0.7%) in low voltage group; while the prognosis was good in 143 patients (77.3%), moderately disabled in 30(16.2%), severely disabled in 11(5.9%) and death in 1(0.5%) in high voltage group (all P<0.01). After discharge, the incidence of numbness, paresthesia and anxiety was significantly higher in low voltage group than that in high voltage group (all P<0.01). Conclusions:Male patients with electrical burn complicated by cerebral trauma are more than female patients, with the young and middle-aged population being at high risk. Disturbance of consciousness and headache are the main clinical manifestations. The incidence of high voltage coma is relatively higher. Compared with low voltage-induced electrical burn, the patients with high voltage-induced electrical burn complicated by cerebral trauma (current inlet and outlet located at the head) sustain more severe and extensive injury. Early and active CT or MRI examination is conducive to definite diagnosis. Non-surgical treatment is the main treatment. Compared with high voltage-induced electrical burn, the patients with low voltage-induced electrical burn complicated by cerebral trauma have significantly better prognosis, but are more likely to develop complications of numbness, paresthesia and anxiety.

Imunomodulação em paciente queimado fasciotomizado: Relato de caso / Immunomodulation in a burned fasciotomized patient: A case report

OBJETIVO: Descrever a evolução clínica e nutricional de paciente queimado fasciotomizado com uso de terapia nutricional imunomoduladora. RELATO DO CASO: Estudo do tipo relato de caso, realizado durante 52 dias na Unidade de Tratamento de Queimados do Hospital da Restauração Governador Paulo Guerra, em Recife-PE. Paciente do sexo masculino, adulto, 27 anos, proveniente do interior de Pernambuco, sem comorbidades, queimado por eletricidade de alta voltagem após acidente de trabalho, evoluindo com síndrome compartimental do membro superior esquerdo e submetido a fasciotomia. Prescrita dieta por via oral associada à suplementação imunomoduladora de característica hipercalórica, hiperproteica, contendo arginina e alto teor de oligoelementos e micronutrientes. Durante o internamento, o paciente apresentou manutenção do estado nutricional, com adesão de novos hábitos alimentares que contribuíram para a cicatrização do membro afetado. CONCLUSÃO: A terapia nutricional imunomoduladora individualizada beneficiou a reparação tecidual, cicatrização e redução do risco de amputação em paciente queimado fasciotomizado.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and nutritional evolution of a burn patient submitted to fasciotomy and immunomodulating nutritional therapy. CASE REPORT: A case-report study was conducted over a 52-day period at the Burn Treatment Unit of Governador Paulo Guerra Restauração Hospital in the city of Recife, Brazil. A 27-year-old male patient, brown skin color, from the instate region of the state of Pernambuco, without comorbidities, suffered a high-voltage electrical burn after a work accident, developing compartment syndrome of the left upper limb, and was submitted to fasciotomy. An orally diet was prescribed associated with immunomodulatory supplementation with a hypercaloric, hyper protein character, with arginine and high content of trace elements and micronutrients. During hospitalization, the patient's nutritional status was maintained with the adherence to new dietary habits, which contributed to the healing of the affected limb. CONCLUSIONS: Individualized immunomodulating nutritional therapy benefits the tissue repair and healing processes, reducing the risk of amputation in burn patients submitted to fasciotomy.

Research advances in diagnosis and treatment of high-voltage electric burn of the wrist / 中华创伤杂志

High-voltage electric burn is a special type of burns with high mortality and disabilities and is concerned by the public. High-voltage electric burn of the wrist is characterized by severe injury, difficulty in determining the degree of injury, complicated treatment process and poor prognosis, bring a huge burden to the society and family. In recent years, imaging examination has provided a more reliable basis for the diagnosis and classification of high-voltage electric burn. The development of microsurgery technology has also given more options for wound repair. The authors review epidemiology, clinical type, injury diagnosis and surgical treatment of wrist high-voltage electric burn, so as to provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment of high-voltage electric burn of the wrist.

[Imaging judgment of soft tissue and vascular injuries in limbs with high-voltage electric burn and its clinical significance].

The injury mechanism of high-voltage electric burn in limbs is complex and special. The soft tissue and vascular injuries caused by high-voltage electric burn are serious and concealed. It is difficult to judge the severity and extent of injury before surgery, which affects the diagnosis and treatment effects and remains a major problem in burn field. In recent decades, a series of clinical studies have been conducted by scholars at home and abroad, using various imaging methods for the judgment of soft tissue and vascular injuries, which have their own advantages and disadvantages. According to the principle of accuracy, precision, safety, and easy operation, magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography are required at the same time in general for the imaging judgment of soft tissue and vascular injuries in limbs with high-voltage electric burn. The B-mode ultrasonography shall be performed if a precise judgment of vascular injury is needed.

[Focus on mental disorders induced by electrical burns].

Electrical burn is a special type of injury with complex injury mechanism, which is one of the difficult issues in the treatment of burn injuries. It not only seriously damages the tissue and organs of body, but also significantly affects the mental health of patients. Many patients with electrical burn simultaneously suffer physical and mental agonies causing increased difficulty in treatment and prolonging the time of recovery. Some of them may experience loss of ability to work or even death due to the mental disorders, despite successful patch-up of their physical injuries. Therefore in treating electrical burn, the psychotherapy and rehabilitation of patients should be closely monitored in addition to the reconstruction of their physical damage.

[Clinical effect of free anterolateral thigh flap combined with arterial vascular reconstruction on repairing high-voltage electrical burn wound on the wrist].

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of free anterolateral thigh flap combined with arterial vascular reconstruction on repairing high-voltage electrical burn wound of type Ⅱ and Ⅲ on the wrist. Methods: From May 2016 to February 2019, 25 patients with deep high-voltage electrical burn wounds on the wrist were admitted to Zhengzhou First People's Hospital, including 23 males and 2 females, aged 11-63 years. Among them, 4 cases had bilateral electrical burns on the wrist, and 21 cases had unilateral electrical burns on the wrist. There were 29 wounds in 29 affected limbs with depth of full-thickness to full-thickness with tendon and bone exposure, and 17 wounds were type Ⅱ and 12 wounds were type Ⅲ. Twenty-four patients underwent CT angiography of the upper extremities before surgery, while the other one patient did not undergo the examination due to seafood allergy. There were no obvious injury to the ulnar and radial arteries in 7 affected limbs, simple ulnar artery injury in 6 affected limbs, simple radial artery injury in 7 affected limbs, and both ulnar and radial arteries injury in 9 affected limbs. The wound areas after debridement were 10 cm×7 cm-36 cm×17 cm, and the free anterolateral thigh flaps were obtained with area of 11 cm×8 cm-37 cm×18 cm for repairing the wounds. For patients with no damage of ulnar artery and radial artery, the trunk of descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery of the flap or combined with the thick muscle perforating branch or lateral branch was anastomosed with the ulnar or radial artery of the wound. For patients with simple ulnar artery or radial artery injury, the trunk, lateral branch, or medial branch was anastomosed with the ulnar artery or radial artery of the wound. For patients with long injury of ulnar artery and radial artery, the ulnar artery or radial artery of the wound was reconstructed with one of the above-mentioned methods, the injured artery that was not anastomosed was reconstructed with great saphenous vein, and the transplanted blood vessel was embedded in the lateral femoral muscle. The accompanying vein of the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery of the flap was anastomosed with the accompanying vein of the ulnar artery or radial artery of the wound and/or the cephalic vein. The donor sites of flaps were sutured directly or repaired with split-thickness skin graft from the thigh. The survival condition of flap and affected limb after operation and during follow-up was observed, and hand function of the affected limb during follow-up was evaluated according to the evaluation standard after repair of peripheral nerve injury in upper limbs. Results: Fifteen affected limb wounds had tissue liquefaction but healed after second debridement on 14-28 days after flap repair operation. All 29 flaps survived in the end. One patient had long ulnar artery and radial artery injuries in affected limbs and the hand was necrotic due to second embolism of the blood vessel in 1 week post operation, and the remaining affected limbs survived. During the follow-up of 6 to 30 months after operation, the flaps were slightly bloated, the affected limbs were warm with normal blood flow, and finger flexion, wrist flexion, and sensory function of hand recovered to varying degrees. The functions of the survived affected limbs were evaluated as excellent in 8 affected limbs, good in 9 affected limbs, medium in 5 affected limbs, and poor in 6 affected limbs, with an excellent and good rate of 60.71%. Conclusions: The clinical effect of free anterolateral thigh flap combined with arterial vascular reconstruction is good for repairing high-voltage electrical burn wound on the wrist, and the patency restoration of the ulnar artery and/or radial artery of the upper limb in stage Ⅰ is helpful for improving the success rate of limb salvage.

[Impacts of high-voltage electrical burn on serum platelet-related factors and platelet aggregation number in rats and the interventive effect of Xuebijing].

Objective: To explore the effect of high-voltage electrical burn on platelet function and rheological behavior in rats and the interventive effect of Xuebijing. Methods: A total of 280 Sprague Dawley rats of clean grade (aged 8-10 weeks, male and female unlimited) were divided into sham injury group, simple electrical burn group, electrical burn+ saline group, and electrical burn+ Xuebijing group according to the random number table, with 70 rats in each group. Rats in sham injury group were not conducted with electrical current to cause sham injury. Rats in the other three groups were given electrical current with output voltage of 2 kV and current intensity of (1.92 ± 0.24) A for 3 s, which caused high-voltage electrical burn wounds, each with an area of 1 cm×1 cm distributed in the left forelimb at the current inlet and the right hindlimb at the current outlet respectively. Rats in sham injury group and simple electrical burn group were not treated after injury. At post injury minute 2 and on post injury day (PID) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, rats in electrical burn+ saline group and electrical burn+ Xuebijing group were intraperitoneally injected with 6 mL/kg saline and 6 mL/kg Xuebijing, respectively. Survival conditions of rats were recorded during the experiment. At 15 min before injury and at post injury hour (PIH) 1, 8, 24, 48, 72, and on PID 7, 10 rats in each group were respectively selected according to the random number table to sacrifice after collection of 5 mL blood under the direct vision of heart. Blood in the volume of 0.05 mL from each rat was taken to make blood smear, and platelet aggregation number was counted under 400 fold field of view using multiple projection microscope. The remaining blood samples were centrifuged to collect supernatant, and the content of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), thrombopoietin (TPO), and platelet activating factor (PAF) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for factorial design and Student-Newman-Keuls method. Results: All rats in sham injury group and simple electrical burn group survived during the experiment. One rat in electrical burn+ saline group died on PID 6, and one rat on PID 5 and one rat on PID 6 died in electrical burn+ Xuebijing group. The levels of all indexes among the 4 groups were close at 15 min before injury. The serum content of PDGF, TPO, and PAF and platelet aggregation number of rats in the three electrical burn groups at all time points after injury were higher or more than those in sham injury group, and the first three indexes reached the peak at PIH 8. The serum platelet aggregation number of rats in simple electrical burn group reached the peak at PIH 48, and that in electrical burn+ saline group and electrical burn+ Xuebijing group reached the peak at PIH 72. Among them, the serum content of PDGF of rats in electrical burn+ Xuebijing group at PIH 48, 72 and on PID 7 ((12.8±4.0), (11.6±4.4), (11.0±3.6) ng/mL, respectively) was close to that in sham injury group ((10.4±2.0), (10.4±2.5), (9.8±3.3) ng/mL, respectively, P>0.05). The serum content of TPO of rats in electrical burn+ Xuebijing group at PIH 24, 72 and on PID 7 ((200±52), (192±36), (193±32) ng/mL, respectively) was close to that in sham injury group ((182±30) , (184±41), (183±33) ng/mL, respectively, P>0.05). The serum content of PDGF, TPO, and PAF and platelet aggregation number of rats in electrical burn+ Xuebijing group at every time point after injury was generally lower or less than that in electrical burn+ saline group and simple electrical burn group. Conclusions: Application of Xuebijing treatment after high-voltage electrical burn can decrease the content of PDGF, TPO, and PAF in the serum and reduce the number of platelet aggregation, thereby inhibit platelet activation and improve platelet rheology.

[Epidemiological investigation of 169 inpatients with high-voltage electrical burns on the wrist].

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of inpatients with high-voltage electrical burns on the wrist in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital (hereinafter referred to as the author's unit), so as to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of high-voltage electrical burns on the wrist. Methods: The medical records of inpatients suffered from high-voltage electrical burns on the wrist in the author's unit from January 2008 to December 2019 were collected. The patients' gender, age, population category, injury situation, injury season, total burn area, electrical burn type on the wrist of the affected limbs, the time from injury to first flap/myocutaneous flap transplantation, vascular reconstruction and flap/myocutaneous flap transplantation of the affected limbs, the total amputation rate of the affected limbs and the amputation rate of the affected limbs with type Ⅲelectrical burns on the wrist, the number of operation, postoperative infection rate of flap/myocutaneous flap, length of hospital stay, hospitalization expense, and treatment outcome were retrospectively analyzed. Comparison of the aforementioned statistical items between patients admitted from January 2008 to December 2013 (hereinafter referred to as the pre-stage) and January 2014 to December 2019 (hereinafter referred to as the post-stage) except gender, the total amputation rate of the affected limbs, treatment outcome were performed. Data were statistically analyzed with chi-square test, Fisher's exact probability test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results: During the 12 years, a total of 169 patients with high-voltage electrical burns on the wrist were admitted to the author's unit, including 162 males and 7 females, aged (35±13) years, and 75.15% (127/169) of patients were 21-50 years old. The top three groups in population category from high to low were workers, migrant workers, and primary and secondary school students, accounting for 48.52% (82/169), 28.99% (49/169), and 9.47% (16/169), respectively. At work of non-electric power accounted for 47.93% (81/169) and ranked the first in the proportion of injury situation. The injury occurred mostly in summer and autumn, accounting for 39.05% (66/169) and 28.99% (49/169), respectively. About 65.09% (110/169) of the patients were with total burn area less than 10% total body surface area. There were totally 216 affected limbs with high-voltage electrical burns on the wrist, of which the numbers of wrist with type Ⅲ and type Ⅳ injury were 25 (11.57%) and 21 (9.72%), respectively. The time from injury to first flap/myocutaneous flap transplantation was 6.00 (3.75, 8.00) d. There were 45 affected limbs operated with vascular reconstruction, 75 affected limbs transplanted with pedicled axial flap, and 86 affected limbs transplanted with free flap/myocutaneous flap. The total amputation rate of affected limbs was 12.96% (28/216), and the amputation rate of the affected limbs with type Ⅲ electrical burns on the wrist was 28% (7/25). The number of operation was 4 (3, 5) times, the postoperative infection rate of flap/myocutaneous flap was 7.18% (13/181), the hospitalization time was 39.00 (25.00, 50.00) d, and the hospitalization cost was 123 553.00 (50 656.50, 216 003.00) yuan. Compared with those of the pre-stage, the time from injury to first flap/myocutaneous flap transplantation was significantly shortened (Z=-4.038, P<0.01), the ratio of free flap/myocutaneous flap transplantation on affected limbs was significantly increased (χ(2)=13.478, P<0.01), the ratio of pedicled axial flap transplantation on affected limbs was significantly decreased (χ(2)=10.242, P<0.01), the number of operation was significantly reduced (Z=-5.903, P<0.01), the postoperative infection rate of flap/myocutaneous flap was significantly decreased (χ(2)=4.492, P<0.05), the length of hospital stay was significantly shortened (Z=-2.723, P<0.01), and the hospitalization expense was significantly decreased among patients hospitalized in the post-stage (Z=-2.121, P<0.05). The other items were close between patients hospitalized in the pre-stage and those in the post-stage. Conclusions: Men were more likely than women to suffer from high-voltage electrical burns on the wrist in the author's unit. Young workers and migrant workers may be the key groups for the prevention of high-voltage electrical burns on the wrist. It is very important to strengthen the management of high voltage safety education for non-electric power staff, warn and protect the surrounding area of high voltage environment, and prohibit non staff for entering the high voltage environment, especially in summer and autumn. In the last 6 years, the patients with high-voltage electrical burns on the wrist may benefit from the active vascular reconstruction at early stage and free flap/myocutaneous flap repair in the author's unit.

Queimaduras ocupacionais no Distrito Federal, Brasil: Estudo retrospectivo de 17 anos / Work-related burns in the Federal District, Brazil: A 17-year retrospective study

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a epidemiologia das queimaduras ocupacionais e as características sociodemográficas das vítimas de queimaduras internadas em um hospital público no período de 17 anos. MÉTODO: Estudo longitudinal, retrospectivo de abordagem quantitativa realizado na unidade de queimados de um hospital público no Brasil de janeiro de 2002 a dezembro de 2018. Entre 4201 queimados internados nesse período, 497 foram vítimas de queimaduras no ambiente de trabalho e tiveram seus prontuários médicos e de alta hospitalar avaliados retrospectivamente. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo masculino (88,5%) e a média de idade foi de 35 anos (intervalo, 18-74). As causas mais frequentes de queimaduras foram eletricidade (41,1%), líquidos inflamáveis (27,5%) e chamas (11,7%). As ocupações mais comuns foram: eletricista (25,3%), cozinheiro (10,9%) e mecânico (8,2%). A superfície corporal queimada média foi de 15,4% e a taxa de mortalidade foi de 2,6%. Variações anuais foram observadas na frequência mensal de acidentes de trabalho, com aumento do número de queimaduras em maio e novembro, que são meses que precedem festividades culturais no Brasil. CONCLUSÃO: Poucas mudanças na epidemiologia e gravidade das queimaduras ocupacionais foram observadas no período de 17 anos de estudo, sugerindo que os programas de prevenção não foram eficazes na redução de queimaduras no ambiente de trabalho. Assim, novas iniciativas dos setores público e privado são necessárias, visando a prevenção de queimaduras de trabalho.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiology of work-related burns and sociodemographic characteristics of burn victims admitted to a public hospital over a period of 17 years. METHODS: This longitudinal, retrospective, quantitative study was conducted in the burn unit of a public hospital in Brazil from January 2002 to December 2018. Of the 4201 burn patients admitted to the hospital during the study period, 497 of them were victims of work-related burns, and therefore their hospital discharge summary and medical records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Most patients were men (88.5%) and the mean age was 35 years (range, 18-74). Electricity was the most frequent cause of burns (41.1%), followed by flammable liquids (27.5%) and flames (11.7%). The most common occupations were electricians (25.3%), cooks (10.9%), and mechanics (8.2%). The mean total body surface area involved was 15.4% and the mortality rate was 2.6%. Annual periodic variations were observed in the monthly frequency of work-related burns, with an increased number of burn accidents occurring in May and November, which are months that precede cultural festivities in Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: Few changes in the epidemiology and severity of work-related burns were observed during the 17-year study period, suggesting that prevention programs have not been effective in reducing burn accidents in the workplace. Thus, new initiatives from the public and private sectors aiming at preventing work-related burn injuries are necessary.

Terapia por pressão negativa em lesões por queimadura elétrica no paciente pediátrico / Negative pressure therapy in injuries for electrical burns in pediatric patients

OBJETIVOS: Relatar o uso da Terapia por Pressão Negativa (TPN) em um paciente pediátrico vítima de queimadura elétrica e fornecer subsídios fundamentais para o melhor tratamento, possibilitando, assim, que outros pacientes se beneficiem com esta terapêutica. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um relato de caso único que avaliou o uso da TPN em um paciente pediátrico. Os dados foram coletados por meio das anotações do prontuário eletrônico do paciente. RESULTADOS: Pode-se considerar que a conduta inicial de uma equipe multidisciplinar foi fundamental para o prognóstico do paciente. Além disso, o membro superior direito acometido pela queimadura elétrica apresentou resultados satisfatórios e significativos quando instituída a TPN. CONCLUSÃO: O relato de caso revelou que a TPN foi imprescindível para a recuperação da lesão do paciente pediátrico, sendo uma alternativa confortável para crianças vítimas de queimaduras, além de permitir a aderência das enxertias de pele e a cicatrização mais rápida das lesões.

OBJECTIVES: To report the use of Negative Pressure Therapy (NPT) in a pediatric patient suffering from electric burn and provide fundamental subsidies for the best treatment, thus allowing other patients to benefit from this therapy. METHODS: This is a single case report that evaluated the use of NPT in a pediatric patient. The data were collected through the patients electronic medical records. RESULTS: The initial management of a multidisciplinary team could be considered as fundamental for the patients prognosis. In addition, the right upper limb affected by electric burn presented satisfactory and significant results when NPT was instituted. CONCLUSION: The case report revealed that NPT was essential for recovery of the pediatric patients lesion, being a comfortable alternative for children who are victims of burns, besides allowing the adhesion of the skin grafts and the faster healing of the lesions.

[Strengthen standardized diagnosis and treatment to improve the prognosis of electric burn].

Because of the complex injury mechanism, hidden tissue injury, and severe systemic injury, the clinical diagnosis and treatment of electric burn still face many challenges, and the mortality and disability rate are still high. In view of the particularity of electric burn and the prognosis of electric burn, especially the quality of wound repair, the author puts forward some personal views on fluid resuscitation, organ protection, and wound repair on the basis of summarizing the new methods of diagnosis and treatment of electric burn at home and abroad at present, and preliminarily explores the standardized diagnosis and treatment of electric burn.

[Limb salvage strategies for patients with high voltage electric burns of extremities on the verge of amputation].

Objective: To explore the limb salvage strategies for patients with high voltage electric burns of extremities on the verge of amputation. Methods: From January 2003 to March 2019, 61 patients with high voltage electric burns of extremities on the verge of amputation were treated in our hospital. All of them were male, aged 15-58 years, including 49 cases of upper limbs and 12 cases of lower limbs. The wound area after thorough debridement ranged from 15 cm×11 cm to 35 cm×20 cm. Emergency surgery for reconstruction of the radial artery with saphenous vein graft under eschar was performed in 5 cases. The arteries of 36 patients (including 7 cases with simultaneous ulnar artery and radial artery reconstruction) were reconstructed with various forms of blood flow-through after debridement, among them, the radial artery of 13 cases, the ulnar artery of 8 cases, the brachial artery of 8 cases, and the femoral artery of 2 cases were reconstructed with saphenous vein graft; the radial artery of 3 cases and the ulnar artery of 7 cases were reconstructed with the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery graft; the radial artery of 2 cases were reconstructed with greater omentum vascular graft; the reflux vein of 3 cases with wrist and forearm annular electric burns were reconstructed with saphenous vein graft. According to the actual situation of the patients, 12 cases of latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, 6 cases of paraumbilical flap, 28 cases of anterolateral thigh flap, 10 cases of abdominal combined axial flap, 5 cases of greater omentum combined with flap and/or skin grafts were used to repair the wounds after debridement and cover the main wounds as much as possible. Some cases were filled with muscle flap in deep defect at the same time. The area of tissue flaps ranged from 10 cm×10 cm to 38 cm×22 cm. For particularly large wounds and annular wounds, the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, the paraumbilical flap, the abdominal combined axial flap, and the greater omentum combined with flap and/or skin grafts were used more often. Donor sites of three patients were closed directly, and those of 58 patients were repaired with thin and medium split-thickness skin or mesh skin grafts. The outcome of limb salvage, flap survival, and follow-up of patients in this group were recorded. Results: All the transplanted tissue flaps survived in 61 patients. Fifty-six patients had successful limb salvage, among them, 31 limbs were healed after primary surgery; 20 limbs with flap infection and tissue necrosis survived after debridement and flap sutured in situ; 5 limbs with flap infection, radial artery thrombosis, and hand blood supply crisis survived after debridement and radial artery reconstruction with saphenous vein graft. Five patients had limb salvage failure, among them, 3 patients with wrist electric burns had embolism on the distal end of the transplanted blood vessels, without condition of re-anastomosis, and the hands gradually necrotized; although the upper limb of one patient was salvaged at first, due to the extensive necrosis and infection at the distal radius and ulna and the existence of hand blood supply under flap, considering prognostic function and economic benefits, amputation was required by the patient; although the foot of one patient was salvaged at first, due to the repeated infection, sinus formation, extensive bone necrosis of foot under flap, dullness of sole and dysfunction in walking for a long time, amputation was required by the patient. During the follow-up of 6 months to 5 years, 56 patients had adequate blood supply in the salvaged limbs, satisfied appearance of flaps, and certain recovery of limb function. Conclusions: Timely revascularization, early thorough debridement, and transplantation of large free tissue flap, combined tissue flap, or blood flow-through flap with rich blood supply are the basic factors to get better limb preservation and recovery of certain functions for patients with high voltage electric burns of limbs on the verge of amputation.

[Clinical application of lobulated transplantation of free anterolateral thigh perforator flap in the treatment of electric burns of limbs].

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of lobulated transplantation of free anterolateral thigh perforator flap in repairing electric burn wounds of limbs. Methods: From August 2014 to April 2019, 19 patients with electric burns in the limbs were hospitalized in our unit, including 18 males and 1 female, aged 20-58 years. There were 37 wounds deep to bone. The area of wounds ranged from 3.0 cm×2.0 cm to 40.0 cm×8.0 cm. Multiple-perforator-based anterolateral thigh flap was designed and resected. Then the flap was lobulated taking the respective perforators of the lateral circumflex femoral artery as the axial vessels before being transplanted to the debrided wounds in the limbs. The blood vessel trunk or the perforator vessels of flap lobes were anastomosed with the respective vessels in the recipient sites. The wounds were repaired with respective lobes of the flap when repairing multiple wounds in one surgical procedure, whereas the lobes were spliced or staggered to cover the wound to fit the shape of wound when repairing a single irregular wound in one surgical procedure. For the limb with distal blood supply disorder, the blood supply branch of flap was used to reconstruct the blood supply. If necessary, an appropriate length of vein was taken for transplantation. The improvement of reconstructed blood supply was observed. The number of surgeries, the number of anterolateral thigh perforator flaps, the number and size of flap lobes, the number of anastomosed vessels in each surgery, the treatment of the donor sites, the length of each surgery, the postoperative complications and survival condition of flap lobes were recorded. The upper extremity function was evaluated with the Carroll's Upper Extremity Function Test Scale, and the patients' satisfaction degree with the therapeutic effect of each surgery was investigated with a 5-point Likert Scale during follow-up. Surgeries were divided into single wound group of repairing one wound at one time and multiple wounds group of repairing two or more wounds at one time. The number of anastomosed vessels in each surgery, the treatment of the donor sites, the length of each surgery, and the postoperative survival condition of the flap lobes were compared between the two groups. Surgeries were divided into early group of performing surgery within post burn day 7 and late group of performing surgery on post burn day 7 and beyond. The postoperative complications and survival condition of flap lobes, the evaluation score of upper limb function and the patients' satisfaction degree with the therapeutic effect of each surgery at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. Data were processed with independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Fisher's exact probability test. Results: The blood supply of 5 patients with distal hand or finger blood supply disorder recovered or improved significantly after vascular transplantation. A total of 46 lobes [(2.2±0.4) lobes per flap] were obtained from 21 anterolateral thigh perforator flaps in 19 patients with 21 surgeries. The area of flap lobes ranged from 4.0 cm×3.0 cm to 24.0 cm×13.0 cm. In each surgery, 2.0 (1.5, 3.0) arteries and 3.0 (2.0, 3.0) veins were anastomosed. Six donor sites were repaired by thin split-thickness scalp, and 15 donor sites were closed directly. The duration of each surgery was (8.9±1.7) h. After surgery, bleeding and hematoma occurred in 2 flap lobes and local infection occurred in 5 flap lobes, which were improved after management. Vascular crisis occurred in 4 flap lobes, and exploratory surgeries were performed, after which 2 lobes survived, while the other 2 lobes necrotized and were repaired by other methods. The rest flap lobes survived well. After each postoperative follow-up of 3 to 60 months, the flap covering areas of the limbs were well-recovered. At the last follow-up, the function evaluation score of 20 affected upper limbs was 85 (63, 90) points, and the score of patients' satisfaction degree with the therapeutic effect of each surgery was (4.4±0.7) points. A total of 30 flap lobes were obtained in 14 surgeries and repaired 30 wounds respectively in multiple wounds group, and 16 flap lobes were obtained in 7 surgeries and were spliced to repair 7 large irregular wounds in single wound group. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of anastomosed artery or vein in each surgery, and the duration of each surgery between multiple wounds group and single wound group (Z=0.240, 0.081, t=0.180, P>0.05), and the condition of skin grafting in the donor sites and the postoperative survival of the flap lobes in multiple wounds group were similar to those in single wound group (P>0.05). A total of 22 flap lobes were obtained in 10 surgeries and repaired 18 wounds in early group, and 24 flap lobes were obtained in 11 surgeries and repaired 19 wounds in late group. The incidence of postoperative hematoma, infection, vascular crisis, and survival of flap lobes in early group were similar to those in late group (P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the patients' satisfaction degree with the therapeutic effect of each surgery at the last follow-up between early group and late group (t=0.701, P>0.05). At the last follow-up, the function evaluation score of 9 upper limbs in early group was 90 (85, 97) points, significantly higher than 80 (40, 85) points of 11 upper limbs in late group (Z=2.431, P<0.05). Conclusions: Free lobulated anterolateral thigh perforator flap is suitable for simultaneous repair of multiple electric burn wounds of limbs, as well as the repair of a single large irregular wound. It has the clinical advantages of less damage to the donor site and good repair quality. The early flap transplantation is beneficial to improve the function of limbs with electric burns.

[Clinical characteristics and repair effect of 136 patients with electric burns of upper limb].

Objective: To analyze clinical characteristics and wound repair methods and effects of patients with upper limb electric burns. Methods: Medical records of 136 patients with upper limb electric burn who met the inclusion criteria and hospitalized in our unit from January 2015 to March 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Proportion in patients with electric burns in the same period, gender, age, admission time, categories, injury causes, injury voltage, burn area and depth of upper limb, simultaneous injury of both upper limbs, and early wound treatment measure of patients with upper limb electric burn were recorded. The main repair methods of each affected limb were classified and recorded. The overall efficacy of the patients was recorded, including postoperative wound complications and healing condition. The patients repaired with distal pedicled flaps and those with free flaps were followed up for 3 to 6 months. The survival rate of flaps were recorded, the function of affected limbs after operation was evaluated, and the satisfaction degree of patients was investigated by Curative Effect Score Table. The amputation rate, age, and burn area of upper limbs of patients caused by high-voltage and low-voltage electricity were compared. Data were processed with Wilcoxon rank sum test, chi-square test, or Fisher's exact probability test. Results: (1) The number of upper limb electric burn patients accounted for 88.3% of 154 patients with electric burns hospitalized in the same period, including 117 males and 19 females, aged 1 year and 2 months to 72 years [(34±18) years], admitted 1 h to 48 d after injury, including 51 electricians, 32 rural migrant workers, 31 students and preschool children, and 22 patients belonging to other categories. Patients of the first two categories were mainly injured by work accidents, and those of the latter two categories mainly suffered from touching power source or power leakage. Among all the patients, 75 cases were injured by high-voltage electric burn, and 61 cases were injured by low-voltage electric burn, with burn area of upper limb from 0.2% to 16.0% [2% (1%, 5%)] total body surface area (TBSA) and area of wounds deep to bone from 0.2% to 15.0% [2% (1%, 5%)] TBSA. Two upper limbs in 54 cases were simultaneously injured, accounting for 39.7%. Early fasciotomy was performed for 73 limbs. (2) Thirteen affected limbs were treated with dressing change, 2 affected limbs were sutured directly after debridement, 56 affected limbs were repaired by skin grafting, 12 affected limbs were repaired by local flap, 45 affected limbs were repaired by distal pedicled flap, 22 affected limbs were repaired by free flap, and 40 affected limbs were amputated (accounting for 21.1%). (3) One case died of pulmonary infection, sepsis, and multiple organ failure after operation, and the rest patients were all cured. One case with avulsion of abdominal flap was repaired by skin grafting after dressing change. The anterolateral thigh flap in one case necrotized after transplantation, which was replaced by pedicled abdominal flap. Seven cases had small erosion on the pedicle or margin after transplantation of abdominal flap and were healed by dressing change. Six cases had local bruising at the distal end after transplantation of abdominal flap and were healed after conservative treatment such as hyperbaric oxygen. The other flaps survived well. (4) The survival rate of distal pedicled flap grafting was 97.8% (44/45), which was close to that of free flap grafting (95.5%, 21/22, P>0.05). The function recovery of affected limb after free flap grafting was better than that of distal pedicled flap grafting (Z=-3.054, P<0.01), but their satisfaction degree of patients was similar (Z=-0.474, P>0.05). (5) Patients with high-voltage electric burn had higher amputation rate, older age, and larger upper limb burn area than those with low-voltage electric burn (χ(2)=4.743, Z=-2.801, -6.469, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: Upper extremity electric burn often occurs in children, electricians, and rural migrant workers with high rate of amputation. Teachers and parents should strengthen safety education for children and manage power source of life well. Workers should improve safety awareness and operate standardly. Fasciotomy for relaxation should be performed for electric burn wound as soon as possible, and flap grafting can effectively repair wound after early debridement. The function recovery of affected upper limb repaired with free flap grafting is better.

[Application of low temperature thermoplastic plate combined with special abdominal band in fixing abdominal pedicled flap for repairing 17 patients with deep electric burn wounds in hands].

If the abdominal pedicled flaps are not well fixed after repair of deep electric burn wounds in hands, many problems such as poor blood supply may occur. In order to solve the above problems, we designed and manufactured the individualized low temperature thermoplastic plate combined with special abdominal band to fix abdominal pedicled flaps for repairing of 17 patients (12 males and 5 females, aged 2-35 years) with deep electric burn wounds in hands from February 2016 to August 2018, and achieved the desired results. The shoulder joint, elbow joint, and wrist joint were fixed by low temperature thermoplastic plate according to the 1/2 circumference of the patient's side chest and upper arm, and the braking of wrist joint and elbow joint was strengthened by special abdominal band. Application of the combined method of fixing abdominal pedicled flaps in repairing deep electric burn wounds in hands has high success rate of flap transplantation. It is simple to make and practical, and worthy of clinical promotion.

[Transplantation of compound tissue flap of toe to reconstruct the thumb with necrosis caused by electric burns in four patients].

From January 2010 to December 2017, 4 patients of thumb with necrosis caused by electric burns (all male, aged from 31 to 58 years) were admitted to our hospital, with 1 patient of second degree injury of right thumb, 2 patients of third degree injury of right thumb, and 1 patient of third degree injury of left thumb. Routine debridement under general anesthesia was performed within 7 days after injury. The compound tissue flap of contralateral second toe was transplanted to reconstruct the thumb with third degree defect, and compound tissue flap of ipsilateral distal hallex was transplanted to reconstruct the thumb with second degree defect. Dorsalis pedics artery was anastomosed with radial artery, saphenous vein or dorsalis pedics vein was anastomosed with cephalic vein. The donor site was transplanted with split-thickness skin graft from autologous thigh. All the tissue flaps and skin grafts survived in 2 weeks after surgery. Within 1 year of follow-up, the reconstructed thumbs can achieve radial abduction and palmar abduction with good function. Reconstruction of thumb with free transplantation of compound tissue flap of toe is a good method to repair thumb with necrosis caused by electric burn.

Application of low temperature thermoplastic plate combined with special abdominal band in fixing abdominal pedicled flap for repairing 17 patients with deep electric burn wounds in hands / 中华烧伤杂志

If the abdominal pedicled flaps are not well fixed after repair of deep electric burn wounds in hands, many problems such as poor blood supply may occur. In order to solve the above problems, we designed and manufactured the individualized low temperature thermoplastic plate combined with special abdominal band to fix abdominal pedicled flaps for repairing of 17 patients (12 males and 5 females, aged 2-35 years) with deep electric burn wounds in hands from February 2016 to August 2018, and achieved the desired results. The shoulder joint, elbow joint, and wrist joint were fixed by low temperature thermoplastic plate according to the 1/2 circumference of the patient′s side chest and upper arm, and the braking of wrist joint and elbow joint was strengthened by special abdominal band. Application of the combined method of fixing abdominal pedicled flaps in repairing deep electric burn wounds in hands has high success rate of flap transplantation. It is simple to make and practical, and worthy of clinical promotion.

Clinical application of lobulated transplantation of free anterolateral thigh perforator flap in the treatment of electric burns of limbs / 中华烧伤杂志

Objective@#To explore the clinical efficacy of lobulated transplantation of free anterolateral thigh perforator flap in repairing electric burn wounds of limbs.@*Methods@#From August 2014 to April 2019, 19 patients with electric burns in the limbs were hospitalized in our unit, including 18 males and 1 female, aged 20-58 years. There were 37 wounds deep to bone. The area of wounds ranged from 3.0 cm×2.0 cm to 40.0 cm×8.0 cm. Multiple-perforator-based anterolateral thigh flap was designed and resected. Then the flap was lobulated taking the respective perforators of the lateral circumflex femoral artery as the axial vessels before being transplanted to the debrided wounds in the limbs. The blood vessel trunk or the perforator vessels of flap lobes were anastomosed with the respective vessels in the recipient sites. The wounds were repaired with respective lobes of the flap when repairing multiple wounds in one surgical procedure, whereas the lobes were spliced or staggered to cover the wound to fit the shape of wound when repairing a single irregular wound in one surgical procedure. For the limb with distal blood supply disorder, the blood supply branch of flap was used to reconstruct the blood supply. If necessary, an appropriate length of vein was taken for transplantation. The improvement of reconstructed blood supply was observed. The number of surgeries, the number of anterolateral thigh perforator flaps, the number and size of flap lobes, the number of anastomosed vessels in each surgery, the treatment of the donor sites, the length of each surgery, the postoperative complications and survival condition of flap lobes were recorded. The upper extremity function was evaluated with the Carroll′s Upper Extremity Function Test Scale, and the patients′ satisfaction degree with the therapeutic effect of each surgery was investigated with a 5-point Likert Scale during follow-up. Surgeries were divided into single wound group of repairing one wound at one time and multiple wounds group of repairing two or more wounds at one time. The number of anastomosed vessels in each surgery, the treatment of the donor sites, the length of each surgery, and the postoperative survival condition of the flap lobes were compared between the two groups. Surgeries were divided into early group of performing surgery within post burn day 7 and late group of performing surgery on post burn day 7 and beyond. The postoperative complications and survival condition of flap lobes, the evaluation score of upper limb function and the patients′ satisfaction degree with the therapeutic effect of each surgery at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. Data were processed with independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, or Fisher′s exact probability test.@*Results@#The blood supply of 5 patients with distal hand or finger blood supply disorder recovered or improved significantly after vascular transplantation. A total of 46 lobes [(2.2±0.4) lobes per flap] were obtained from 21 anterolateral thigh perforator flaps in 19 patients with 21 surgeries. The area of flap lobes ranged from 4.0 cm×3.0 cm to 24.0 cm×13.0 cm. In each surgery, 2.0 (1.5, 3.0) arteries and 3.0 (2.0, 3.0) veins were anastomosed. Six donor sites were repaired by thin split-thickness scalp, and 15 donor sites were closed directly. The duration of each surgery was (8.9±1.7) h. After surgery, bleeding and hematoma occurred in 2 flap lobes and local infection occurred in 5 flap lobes, which were improved after management. Vascular crisis occurred in 4 flap lobes, and exploratory surgeries were performed, after which 2 lobes survived, while the other 2 lobes necrotized and were repaired by other methods. The rest flap lobes survived well. After each postoperative follow-up of 3 to 60 months, the flap covering areas of the limbs were well-recovered. At the last follow-up, the function evaluation score of 20 affected upper limbs was 85 (63, 90) points, and the score of patients′ satisfaction degree with the therapeutic effect of each surgery was (4.4±0.7) points. A total of 30 flap lobes were obtained in 14 surgeries and repaired 30 wounds respectively in multiple wounds group, and 16 flap lobes were obtained in 7 surgeries and were spliced to repair 7 large irregular wounds in single wound group. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of anastomosed artery or vein in each surgery, and the duration of each surgery between multiple wounds group and single wound group (Z=0.240, 0.081, t=0.180, P>0.05), and the condition of skin grafting in the donor sites and the postoperative survival of the flap lobes in multiple wounds group were similar to those in single wound group (P>0.05). A total of 22 flap lobes were obtained in 10 surgeries and repaired 18 wounds in early group, and 24 flap lobes were obtained in 11 surgeries and repaired 19 wounds in late group. The incidence of postoperative hematoma, infection, vascular crisis, and survival of flap lobes in early group were similar to those in late group (P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the patients′ satisfaction degree with the therapeutic effect of each surgery at the last follow-up between early group and late group (t=0.701, P>0.05). At the last follow-up, the function evaluation score of 9 upper limbs in early group was 90 (85, 97) points, significantly higher than 80 (40, 85) points of 11 upper limbs in late group (Z=2.431, P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#Free lobulated anterolateral thigh perforator flap is suitable for simultaneous repair of multiple electric burn wounds of limbs, as well as the repair of a single large irregular wound. It has the clinical advantages of less damage to the donor site and good repair quality. The early flap transplantation is beneficial to improve the function of limbs with electric burns.