Citation

Kim HM, Ko YA, Kim JS, Lim SH, Hong BY. Ann. Rehabil. Med. 2014; 38(2): 277-281.

Affiliation

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine)

DOI

10.5535/arm.2014.38.2.277

PMID

24855625

PMCID

PMC4026617

Abstract

Electrical shock can result in neurological complications, involving both peripheral and central nervous systems, which may present immediately or later on. However, delayed neurological complications caused by low-voltage electric shock are rarely reported. Here, a case of a man suffering from weakness and aphasia due to the delayed-onset of the peripheral nerve injury and ischemic stroke following an electrical shock is presented. Possible mechanisms underlying the neurological complications include thermal injury to perineural tissue, overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, vascular injury, and histological or electrophysiological changes. Moreover, vasospasms caused by low-voltage alternating current may predispose individuals to ischemic stroke. Therefore, clinicians should consider the possibility of neurological complications, even if the onset of the symptoms is delayed, and should perform diagnostic tests, such as electrophysiology or imaging, when patients present with weakness following an electric injury.

Language: en