Citation

Ritchie D, Elkbuli A, McKenney M, Renda M. Int. J. Surg. Case Rep. 2021; 84.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106066

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Low voltage electrical injuries (less than 1000 V) can produce enough tetany to cause fractures, usually of the upper extremities. Simultaneous bilateral fractures of the femoral neck are an extremely rare occurrence. It is even more uncommon for a young healthy male to suffer significant fractures from a low voltage injury. Case presentation: A 25-year-old male attempted suicide by filling a bathtub with water and getting into it prior to dropping a blender into the water. He experienced full body convulsions but remained awake throughout the entire event. In the trauma bay his primary complaints were bilateral hip pain and back pain, without neurologic deficit. Radiological studies confirmed bilateral sub-capital femur fractures and thoracic vertebral fractures (compression fractures of T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T9, and T11). The patient underwent bilateral open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the femurs, while the spine fractures were treated with a thoracic-lumbar-sacral orthosis TLSO brace. Clinical discussion: Low voltage electrical injury is more likely to lead to fractures in patients with chronic renal failure and metabolic conditions such as hypocalcemia, osetomalacia, and osteoporosis. Fractures after low voltage electrical injury are extremely uncommon and a high suspicion for these injuries should be maintained because if missed there is a high risk of morbidity and mortality.

CONCLUSION: We present a rare case of low voltage electrical injury by 120 V from a domestic US power supply, amplified by water conduction resulting in bilateral femoral neck fractures and vertebral body fractures. © 2021 The Authors

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; male; case report; suicide attempt; clinical article; convulsion; backache; thoracic spine; physiotherapy; spine fracture; thorax; osteosynthesis; Article; medical history; electric injury; bone radiography; thigh; wakefulness; compression fracture; pelvis; femur; Trauma outcomes; femur fracture; hip pain; x-ray computed tomography; femoral neck fracture; Bilateral femoral neck fractures; Electrical injuries; open reduction (procedure); Thoracic vertebral fractures