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Electrical burns
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Local exposure to electric current forms an electrical burn in the form of “current marks” - input and output, in accordance with the loop of its passage: longitudinal (central), oblique, upper and lower transverse.
Electrical burns have 4 degrees of severity:
- I. Damage to the epidermis of the skin. An electrical burn occurs when exposed to low-power current in three forms:
- when touching - local in the area of contact with the electrode, the exit mark, as a rule, is not formed;
- if there is no contact with the electrodes (voltaic arc), the electrical burn manifests itself as a thermal burn;
- When exposed to atmospheric electricity, light pink or red "tree-like" stripes form on the skin.
- II. Skin lesions to the basal layer. The entrance hole is manifested by the formation of blisters filled with serous or serous-hemorrhagic contents, which quickly open. The deserotic surface is sharply painful, heals by primary intention. The exit mark, as a rule, corresponds to the first degree, in the form of a painful, swollen spot of red color (less often with a bluish tint), but may also be absent.
- III. The entire thickness of the skin is affected. The entrance mark initially looks like a second-degree electrical burn. But after the blisters open, a deserous surface is revealed, followed by the formation of a dark scab. It is painless. The exit mark can be of varying degrees, but its presence is mandatory.
- IV. Damage to the entire thickness of the skin, muscles, tendons, bones. The entrance mark may also initially appear as a second-degree electrical burn, but painless. After 5-7 days, deep necrosis, demarcation, and obvious signs of charring (wet gangrene is less common) form. The exit mark also, as a rule; corresponds to the fourth degree.
Due to persistent angiospasm, microcirculation and innervation disorders, healing is slow. The scab is rejected for a long time, granulations are sluggish, the regeneration process is weak and long. Healing usually occurs with the formation of a rough deforming scar. Changes in nerve trunks are often formed, which subsequently determine the development of causalgia.
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