Quadriparesis following a Low-Voltage Electrical Injury in a 4-Year-Old Girl

Abstract

Electricity injuries are a global health problem, especially in low-income countries. The present case report involves a 4-year-old girl with quadriparesis following a low-voltage electrical injury. She was alert and her vital signs were normal on admission. The results of her examination were normal, except for decreased muscle power of the limbs, which was significantly improved during observation in the emergency ward and the subsequent follow-up. Clinical evidence suggested the diagnosis of transient neurologic effects associated with the electrical injury. Some degrees of neurological impairment are often observed in patients after electrical damage. Given the multiorgan dysfunction observed in many electrical injury patients, it is recommended to perform neurological examinations, if possible, at the first visit and follow-ups.

Keywords

quadriparesis - electrical injury - neurological manifestation

• References

• 1 Vahdati SS, Moradi N, Ghadim JH. Evaluation of electrical injury in East Azarbaijan Province, Iran. Journal of Analytical Research in Clinical Medicine 2013; 1 (01) 22-24
• 2 Spies C, Trohman RG. Narrative review: electrocution and life-threatening electrical injuries. Ann Intern Med 2006; 145 (07) 531-537
• 3 Garcia CT, Smith GA, Cohen DM, Fernandez K. Electrical injuries in a pediatric emergency department. Ann Emerg Med 1995; 26 (05) 604-608
• 4 Baker MD, Chiaviello C. Household electrical injuries in children. Epidemiology and identification of avoidable hazards. Am J Dis Child 1989; 143 (01) 59-62
• 5 Arasli Yilmaz A, Köksal AO, Özdemir O. , et al. Evaluation of children presenting to the emergency room after electrical injury. Turk J Med Sci 2015; 45 (02) 325-328
• 6 Ryan CM. Neurological manifestations of electrical trauma. In: Proceedings of the 26th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society at San Francisco, CA. 2004: 5437-5439
• 7 Zemaitis MR, Foris LA, Lopez RA, Huecker MR. Electrical injuries. In: Abai B, Ghosh AA, Acharya AB. , et al, eds. StatPearls. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing LLC; 2019
• 8 Nolan JP, Soar J, Zideman DA. , et al; ERC Guidelines Writing Group. European resuscitation council guidelines for resuscitation 2010 section 1. Executive summary. Resuscitation 2010; 81 (10) 1219-1276
• 9 Ko SH, Chun W, Kim HC. Delayed spinal cord injury following electrical burns: a 7-year experience. Burns 2004; 30 (07) 691-695
• 10 Lochaitis A, Parker I, Stavropoulou V, Panavotaki D. Neurological disorders following electrical burn injuries. Annals of the MBC 1991; 4: 84-89
• 11 Celik A, Ergün O, Ozok G. Pediatric electrical injuries: a review of 38 consecutive patients. J Pediatr Surg 2004; 39 (08) 1233-1237
• 12 Kim HM, Ko YA, Kim JS, Lim SH, Hong BY. Neurological complication after low-voltage electric injury: a case report. Ann Rehabil Med 2014; 38 (02) 277-281
• 13 Radulovic N, Mason SA, Rehou S, Godleski M, Jeschke MG. Acute and long-term clinical, neuropsychological and return-to-work sequelae following electrical injury: a retrospective cohort study. BMJ Open 2019; 9 (05) e025990