The Statistical Analysis for 285 Amputee in the Patients with Electrical Burn

Lee, Sun Ho; Rha, Jong Deuk; Min, Kyung Duck; Kim, Nam Seog

Abstract

Electrical burn is thought to be similar to crushing injury in that it usually involves skin, muscle and neurovascular structure simultaneously. Especially in extremity, there are many occasions that amputations are inevitable. Since the demarcation between viable and non-viable tissue tends to be obscure, electrical burn greatly differs from other types of injury in detailed methods of treatment, such as the level, the timing and the technique of amputation. During the past 10 years from January, 1978 to December, 1987, authors experienced 285 amputations in 181 cases of electrical burn at Orthopedic Department of Hanil Hospital. The clinical data of our experience were reviewed and analysed. The results were as follows ;l. Amputation rate in electrical burn was 22.4%. 2. Out of total 285 amputations, the number of upper extremity was 187 (65.6%) and it was 1.9 times more than that of lower extremity. Right forearm was 1.8 times more than left forearm. 3. Multiple limbs amputation were performed in 83 cases (45.9%). 4. Among 285 stumps, more than one operation were done in 74 stumps because of infection (50%), necrosis of stump end (35.1%), bony overgrowth at stump end (8.1%) and neuroma(6.8%).