TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2024//
TI  - Electro-amputation of lower limbs due to a high-voltage shock: report of an unusual case
JO  - Curēus
A1  - Sundaragiri, Suraj
A1  - Kumaran M, Senthil
A1  - Janarthanan, Venkatesh
A1  - Mittal, Chaitanya
A1  - S, Gerard Pradeep Devnath
SP  - e53808
EP  - e53808
VL  - 16
IS  - 2
N2  - Electrical injuries due to high voltage are not frequent but can cause a high mortality rate. The body of a 45-year-old security guard was found at an apartment with an alleged history of being electrocuted while working when he came into contact with a high-voltage transformer. The police brought the body for a post-mortem examination. The autopsy revealed superficial to deep-degree burns with bilateral lower limb amputation. The cause of death was shock due to 80%-85% of the total body surface area being burned due to high-voltage electrocution. This article suggests a new mechanism, i.e., electrocution-induced amputation, called electro-amputation, which is unusual and not reported in the literature to the best of our knowledge. The authors also recommend a forensic surgeon should consider detailed circumstantial findings, a scene of crime visit, and a meticulous post-mortem examination before concluding the exact cause of death as high-voltage electrocution.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2168-8184
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.53808
ID  - ref1
ER  -